A subsidiary of Cenovus Energy has agreed to a $169 million settlement to resolve claims from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding pollution at its petroleum refinery in Lima, Ohio. The U.S. Department of Justice and EPA announced the deal on Friday.
Cenovus Energy $169M Deal : Settlement Details
Lima Refining Co., a unit of the Canadian-based Cenovus Energy, will pay a $19 million civil penalty and invest $150 million in emissions reduction technology to settle allegations under the Clean Air Act. According to the EPA, the company failed to limit toxic benzene emissions in its wastewater streams and neglected to adequately reduce air pollutants.
EPA’s Allegations
The EPA’s complaint asserts that Lima Refining improperly managed its benzene waste streams by exposing them to the atmosphere before treatment, allowing harmful pollutants to escape into the surrounding community. Additional violations cited by the EPA include improperly sealed roof openings and failure to conduct required sample testing between 2018 and 2022, with some violations persisting through the present.
