The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it has issued an administrative consent order to Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation LLLP (PHRT), requiring the company to safely remove certain materials and strictly comply with environmental regulations.

The EPA said the order was part of its ongoing efforts to protect the environment and public health on St. Croix after a thorough inspection of the facility.

Lisa F. Garcia, EPA’s regional director, emphasized the agency’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws and protecting the health of St. Croix residents. “EPA complies with environmental laws and protects the health of the people of St. Croix,” Ms. Garcia said. “This consent order is a continuation of EPA’s work over the past several years to address risks at this facility that could pose a threat to people and the environment. We will work closely with PHRT and monitor progress to ensure the orders are implemented.”

The Administrative Notice follows an inspection in September 2023 that identified potential risks associated with the handling of materials that had not yet been removed from the refinery, particularly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in LPG Units No. 1 and No. 2. This Notice builds on previous actions taken by PHRT in the summer of 2023 when other materials were removed under a previous consent notice.

According to the new regulation, PHRT is obliged to:

• Immediately implement safety measures for LPG Units No. 1 and No. 2, including deploying night shift personnel and improving emergency response capabilities.
• Submit a detailed work plan for EPA approval, ensure compliance with environmental laws, and obtain all necessary permits for material removal from LPG Units #1 and #2.
• Safely remove materials from identified LPG units.

The EPA said it will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, August 27, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. AST to discuss the order and answer questions from the public. Interested parties can attend the meeting. Here.

To facilitate ongoing communication with the public, the EPA has established a toll-free hotline at (866) 462-4789 and provides regular updates on its website. For more information on EPA’s actions at the refinery, visit the St. Croix refinery’s website. website.