March Refinery Fire Violated Air Quality Standard in Delaware

A March 2020 fire at the Delaware City Refinery that injured two people violated the facility’s air quality permit, the Delaware agency governing natural resources announced this week.

The refinery’s application to renew its operating permit is under consideration by the state.

The March 11 refinery fire emitted hundreds of pounds of combined sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and carbon monoxide. It also exceeded the facility’s opacity limits with visible smoke, the notice of violation states. 

Regulators state that the violation was corrected the day of the fire. The enforcement action was not served to the company until this month.

Delaware City Refinery has paid the state more than a million dollars in fines, penalties and settlements to resolve permit violations since it restarted a decade ago.

DNREC has cited the facility with violations five times so far this year.