EPA Orders Limetree To Install More Monitors, Gov. Bryan Responds

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Limetree Bay Refinery to install additional air monitors before the refinery can resume operations.

The EPA shut down the refinery in May after several incidents came under investigation for threatening the health and safety of the community. Residents of St. Croix have complained of gaseous odors, breathing problems and in one incident, emissions polluted a nearby housing community. The refinery, capable of producing about 200,000 barrels per day, restarted operations earlier this year after being nonoperational for almost a decade. The refinery is backed by private equity group EIG.

According to the EPA's release, Limetree Bay must submit a plan within 15 days to install nine hydrogen sulfide and nine sulfur dioxide monitors.

In response, Limetree Bay's leadership released a statement saying, "Limetree Bay is currently evaluating the EPA order as we continue to work towards a safe restart. As part of the Company’s commitment to being a good neighbor and responsible member of the St. Croix community, Limetree has been conducting fence line monitoring for hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide since the latter part of April. We voluntarily committed to installing sulfur dioxide monitors at five locations in the surrounding neighborhoods, and in response to further requests from the community we are expanding this commitment to include monitors for hydrogen sulfide at the same five locations. We expect all of the monitors to be operational by September.”

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. also weighed in on the EPA's requirements. “We welcome the EPA’s help in this matter, and we welcome the findings and the recommended actions aimed at protecting the community and ensuring a safe restart to refinery operations at Limetree Bay," he said. He added, "I have been in constant communication with EPA Regional Acting Administrator Walter Mugdan as well as EPA headquarters and have received assurances from both that the conditions announced are not intended to prevent the restart of the refinery in a timely fashion."

Start your day with the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here. And follow Patch USVI on Facebook to get the latest, breaking news.