ST. CROIX — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an administrative order on consent today that requires Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation LLLP to remove additional chemicals from the oil refinery on St. Croix’s South Shore that were identified following the previous removal of other materials last summer under a prior order on consent, the EPA announced.
Port Hamilton, in a statement, noted it has worked with the EPA since taking over operations at the refinery to ensure the facility remains safe and compliant with all applicable environmental regulations.
PHRT agrees to safely remove materials and strictly adhere to environmental regulations under the order, which was the result of a September 2023 inspection that found potential risks associated with the handling of materials not previously removed from the facility, including liquified petroleum gas in LPG Units No. 1 and 2, according to the EPA. The order outlines specific requirements for PHRT to mitigate these risks.
“EPA is upholding environmental laws and protecting people’s health in St. Croix,” EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia said in a statement. “This order on consent is a continuation of EPA’s work over the past several years to address risks at this facility that may pose a threat to people and the environment. We will work closely with PHRT, and monitor progress, to ensure the directives are completed.”
Port Hamilton noted that while it respectfully disagrees with EPA’s assessment of the risks posed by the chemicals to be addressed at the refinery, many of which were intended for reuse upon the resumption of operations, it consented to an administrative agreement with the EPA to address the agency’s concerns, according to PHRT.
“We have worked hard to respond to EPA’s views, even where we do not agree with the agency’s position,” Fermin Rodriguez, PHRT vice president and refinery manager, said in a statement. “The refinery is also poised to bring back well-paying, skilled jobs to the Virgin Islands economy, and we will ensure we are proceeding in a manner that is protective of the refinery’s workers and the local community.”
Under the order, Port Hamilton is required to do three things — immediately implement safety measures for both LPG units, including staffing for nightshift walk-downs and bolstering emergency response capabilities; submit a detailed work plan for EPA approval, and secure any necessary permits for material removal from both LPG units, in compliance with environmental laws; and safely remove materials from both LPG units.
Port Hamilton indicated it looks forward to continuing to work cooperatively with the EPA and Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to resume operations soon.
The EPA will hold a virtual public meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 27 to provide details of the order and answer questions from the community. A link to participate in the meeting is available in the EPA news release.
