Citing an ‘Imminent’ Health Threat, the EPA Orders Temporary Shut Down of St. Croix Oil Refinery
It is the most significant step the Biden administration has taken to uphold its environmental justice pledge since revoking a key permit at the refinery in March.
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The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday ordered a U.S. Virgin Islands oil refinery to shut down operations for 60 days, citing an “imminent risk to public health,” after the plant experienced a series of accidents that exposed residents to noxious fumes and poisoned their drinking water.
Management of the Limetree Bay refinery, located in St. Croix, had already suspended operations voluntarily on Wednesday after a fire broke out at the facility and a flaring event spewed droplets of oil into the air, covering homes and contaminating the drinking water in neighborhoods as far as seven miles away. It was the second instance of the refinery raining oil on residents since the facility r