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Sunoco’s plans to build an 859 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Unit at its refinery are still in the approval stages, but residents and community members aren’t backing down from their protests of an act they say will do more harm than good.
A 2006 federal mandate requires diesel fuel produced for highway use in all U.S. refineries, such as Sunoco, to be ultra-low sulfur (ULSD) by ’09. The switch will cut down on pollution — mainly smog — caused by vehicles as ULSD contains less sulfur.
But the federal law isn’t sitting well with residents in the shadows of the refinery at 3144 Passyunk Ave.
Community Labor Refinery Tracking Committee President Joanne Rossi has been tackling environmental issues for years and keeps a constant watch on Philadelphia-based Sunoco, including filing two lawsuits against the company. This time around, Rossi and community members are concerned that, during the ULSD manufacturing process, there will be a possible increase in emissions of the carcinogen benzene. The natural constituent of crude oil can, after long periods of exposure, have harmful effects on one’s health and has been linked to cancer and respiratory diseases, Rossi said.
Rossi sees a solution to the emission question in finding fuel alternatives, specifically taking a closer look at bio-diesel, which she describes as a more "green option."
"It’s like taking two steps forward and one step back," the lifelong Southwest Philly resident said of Sunoco in regards to the committee’s work. "I can’t blame the refinery because they’re in the business to make money, so I have to blame the authorities and the federal government for not coming up with fuel alternatives.
"If we’re going to go green, let’s go green; but nobody wants to step on the toes of big oil."
Sunoco Manager of Public Affairs John McCann said there aren’t really any alternatives to consider, as Sunoco is in the "fossil-fuel" business.
"We’re not big oil. I think we do a very good job of using the best technology to operate environmentally sound on a daily basis," McCann said. "That’s one of our primary goals, and we do a very good job of keeping to that goal."
Rossi was one of about 10 people — mostly residents — at last month’s hearing put together by the city’s Air Management Services at the public’s request to let the community voice its concerns and questions about the emissions and, more specifically, about the permit application filed last year by Sunoco to AMS to build the 859 ULSD Unit at the refinery.
Rossi said all questions were recorded by a stenographer and AMS said they would mail the answers and responses to those in attendance several weeks after the meeting. So far, no communication has been received and Rossi’s concerns still remain on the table.
Most of her questions — aside from those about the specific increases of benzene emissions — dealt with her belief an already-standing 859 Unit was to be reactivated after being decommissioned for a decade.
Not so, McCann said. According to the spokesman, the unit that will produce up to 60,000 barrels per day of ULSD is being built from the ground up. The latter, he added, will work in conjunction with three or four existing distillation towers that are up to par in regards to standards that will be incorporated into the new unit. The unit’s construction will start upon the permit’s approval.
"Earlier this year we started demolishing and the old 859 Unit is gone," he said. "There are people out there telling the world we are restarting a unit that’s been mothballed for 10 years and that’s totally not true. They only know what we put in the permit and it said there is a possibility of increased emissions of benzene, and we have to say that because if we didn’t and it was there, we’d be in violation of the permit. They’re focusing on one small aspect."
McCann said he believed the misinformation regarding the reactivation came from wording on a public notice about the hearing on a document that was created by AMS.
Calls to the Health Department, who oversees AMS, were not returned by press time to comment on the notice or the mailings from the meeting.
McCann was unable to provide specific figures on the maximum amount of benzene emissions that could safely enter the environment. With regard to predicted emission figures for the new unit, McCann was confident Sunoco engineers who put together the application used the best methods and technology to make their estimates.
"They make the best technical guess as to what the maximum amount of emissions would be when the unit is running," he said of the process. "Then we build the unit and, after it’s up and running normally, AMS will take readings from what’s coming out of the stacks. In all probability, the emissions will actually be less than what was predicted because, when they make estimates, they are very conservative."
Rossi did not return phone calls by press time to respond to McCann’s information.
In regards to the benzene emissions, McCann said it falls under the umbrella of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), of which Sunoco would see an emissions increase of 14.33 tons per year. McCann could not provide specific numbers on the total VOC emissions this year. When dealing with VOCs, McCann said, "a number of different things get emitted," including benzene.
"We’re testing where the piping comes together, that’s where the benzene will exist," he said, adding the invisible substance dissipates in the air very quickly. "Within those compounds, it’s difficult to predict if there’s going to be any benzene emissions of a specific number."
McCann, too, attended the hearing, but just as an observer, saying, "it’s not for me to comment on that," in regards to the overall tone of the room.
Rossi said both she and the others at the Nov. 8 session at the Lena Maloney CDC/Eastwick at the Meadows, 6630 Lindbergh Blvd., felt discouraged and frustrated at what was going on, especially since she feels the process is at a point where not much can be done to change what happens.
"They are against this because it effects their health," she said of the attendees. "They’re unhappy, but there’s not much the public can do. By the time it gets to a hearing, [Sunoco] is pretty much going to get the permit — people are just upset in the increase of emissions.
"Everybody else is evening out and coming down, and we’re still climbing," she said of emissions figures nationwide. "So to me, it’s alarming."
McCann said residents have little need to worry.
"[Benzene is] one of those words that makes everybody sit up and listen," he said. "We are confident benzene emissions will be well within acceptable limits, confident our testing will show that and, when the agencies come in and do their testing, it will show that also."
According to city Health Department spokesman Jeff Moran, "the plan is under review and the discussion continues between AMS, Sunoco and the EPA in order to arrive at an agreeable plan."
McCann said the processing of the application is moving as expected in light of what AMS has to do, which includes looking over the information presented by Sunoco and determining if the building of the unit is safe.
"We’re always concerned about the application," McCann said, "but AMS knows who to call if they have any questions on the data presented."
Despite Rossi’s feelings and what the outcome may be, she will continue her watchdog ways.
"The city wants to say trans fat is bad in cookies, but the oil industry can put something into the air that can kill you," she said. "I mean, come on, I think there’s something wrong with that picture."
