Fresh air funds

Governmental action aimed at freshening up the region’s air quality finally hit home last week.

Sunoco Inc. has agreed to a $285 million consent decree that will partly require the company to install new pollution control equipment at its local refinery, 3144 Passyunk Ave., by 2008.

The settlement is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to reduce air pollution and upgrade systems at oil refineries nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Justice, the EPA, the city and the Departments of Environmental Protection in three states filed the decree, which could reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 78 percent at four of its refineries in Philadelphia, Marcus Hook, Toledo, Ohio, and Tulsa, Okla.

The Philadelphia-based Sunoco, one of the largest, independent refiners in the United States, also is required to pay a cash penalty of $500,000 to the city’s Department of Public Health, a division of Air Management Services and expend more than $3.6 million to implement environmental projects for the city and region.

"Sunoco is committed to manage its operations in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner," said Gerald Davis, the company’s spokesperson. "The agreement is a win-win situation for everyone involved. It’s good for the environment, good for the various communities surrounding the refinery and good for Sunoco."

Sunoco’s 2003 health, environment and safety report states emission violations increased 34 percent nationwide at all of the company’s facilities compared to the previous year.

The consent decree comes after an April lawsuit filed by the Community Labor Refinery Tracking Committee, which was formed to address health and safety issues regarding the refinery.

Five years ago, the committee filed an intent to sue, but was persuaded by the Department of Justice to drop the matter. The group was informed the department was conducting its own investigation.

Since government officials never informed the CLRTC of the details surrounding the investigation, the committee, tired of waiting for action, filed suit, claiming emission violations.

AS OF MONDAY, Joanne Rossi, the committee’s president, said she did not view the actual consent decree and was unable to comment on it.

While Rossi’s group was not part of the negotiation process involving the consent decree, the Southwest Philly resident hopes "it doesn’t take another five years to complete whatever is in the documents. I hope it is done in a timely manner."

The committee and its lawyer need to analyze the decree before deciding the future of their lawsuit.

Another group also has its eyes fixated on the refinery.

The Clean Water Fund is pressuring Sunoco to phase out the use of hydrogen fluoride, a chemical used to boost the production of high-octane gasoline.

Christine Knapp, program organizer for the Clean Water Fund, a national organization, notes the chemical, if released, creates a cloud of lethal gas than can travel for five miles, placing many people at risk.

"The bottom line is hydrogen fluoride is probably the worst chemical to bring into a community with this many people in it," said Knapp, who noted roughly four million people live within a 25-mile radius of the refinery.

A modified version of the chemical is safer and costs less than using other alternatives, including the potentially dangerous sulfuric acid, Knapp said.

To date, 40 civic, environmental and faith-based groups citywide have united for the cause, collecting an estimated 700 petition signatures, said Knapp, who works at the organization’s Philadelphia office.

Sunoco "has been responsive to community concerns in the past," she said. "It’s just a matter of demonstrating to them that the community is concerned and that this is a viable option for them."