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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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2074,
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1201 ELM STREET
DALLAS, TEXAS 78270 y
21 AUG 1981
Honorable Robert L- Livingston
liouse of Represent
Kashington, D.C.
Dear fr. Livingston: i
Thank you for your letter of July 25, 1981, concerning the complaint
of your constituent, fir. Jerry C. Ford, about odors from the
hh facility located in feraux, Louisia: Although the Enviror al
rotection Agency (EPA) has no rity regarding odors, we
have taken enforcement action against Murphy O11 which should result:
in air pollution abatement.
On Nay 26, 1981, this office issued an enforcenent order to Hturphy
011 to reduce the particulate enfsstons from their Ho. 2 fluid cata~
lytic cracking (FCC) unit to levels that comply with EPA's Hew Source
Performance Standard. Stack testing on this unit was conducted in
early August, and we are now waiting for the result. Also in early
August, testing was conducted on the sulfur recovery unit to ensure
compliance with the state sulfur dioxide regulation. In the near
future, testing will be conducted at the company's fo. 1 FCC Unit
to ensure compliance with the State particulate regulation. Finally,
as part of our continuing investigation of this source, EPA will be
cOnducting a site inspection during the next two months.
By ensuring that a source ts in compliance with emission regulattons
for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and volatile organic com
pounds, odors from refineries can generally be minimized. In those
Situations where odors are not directly related to a pollutant regu- -
lated under a State or Federal emission regulation, we will refer
such a problem to the State for their review for enforcement under
the State's nuisance ordinance. In ceneral, enforcenent under State
nuisance laws is difficult because what "is" and what "is-not” 2
nuisance is not always clear. Since a large nuaber of complaints
from citizens usually is effective in providing evidence that a nui-
sance does in fact exist, I would recommend that ltr. Ford and his
neighbors contact the State Air Pollution Agency outlining their
problen. Correspondence to the State regarding air pollution should
1 sent to:
Mr. Gus Von Bodungen
Chief, Air quality Division RECEIVED
Department of Natural Resources
P.0. Box 44066 SEP 3198
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 76804
| emcee onejes such as Murphy’O11 can be a difficult pro-
the State of Louisiana are ware’ ‘of problems at
at rear reducing odors from the Murphy