Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to pay more than $118 million to resolve allegations that its refinery and chemical plant near Houston emitted harmful amounts of benzene and other air pollutants, the Justice Department said. The company also agreed to pay a $2.6 million civil penalty. Chronic exposure to benzene, a carcinogen, can cause leukemia…
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Shell cuts deal with U.S. to cut pollution at Houston refinery
HOUSTON |
(Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc has agreed to cut pollution at its joint-venture 327,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery in the Houston suburb of Deer Park, Texas, according to an announcement on Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Under the agreement, which will take the form of a consent decree entered in U.S. District Court, Shell will install at least $115 million worth of equipment that will cut pollution from safety flares at the Deer Park refinery and adjoining chemical plant, according to the announcement.