Woods Cross Refinery Holly Corp
One of the three oil refineries located in Woods Cross, Utah is owned by the Holly Refining & Marketing Company. Holly Corp purchased the facility from ConocoPhillips Co. in 2003. The site currently has the ability to process up to 26,000 each day.
Like the other plants in Woods Cross, this facility also utilized industrial products that were made out of asbestos earlier in its history. These product were put to use largely due to their ability to withstand high temperatures. Every oil refinery has processes that produce an extreme amount of heat, and therefore needs items such as rubber gaskets that are able to tolerate it. Asbestos was prized for having this ability, and was used in many industrial work sites. Years later, however, it was found to be a highly toxic substance.
Researches found that when the products made from asbestos would crack and break apart over time, they would release small particles into the atmosphere. These particles could be inhaled without the knowledge of the person who had breathed them in. They will then remain in the respiratory system, where they can do massive amounts of damage and produce a form of cancer known as Mesothelioma. This cancer is often deadly.
All of the asbestos based products have since been removed, but any plant workers who were on site while they were in use is advised to notify their healthcare provider about the possible exposure.
Although the asbestos problem occurred prior to Holly Corporation's purchase of the plant, the company did have to deal with other health and environmental issues. In 2008, studies performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that the facility was producing more pollution than was legally acceptable. This is in direct violation of the Clean Air Act, and it resulted in Holly spending $17 million dollars in fines and the purchase of better emission detecting equipment. The company was also asked to give $130,000 to the the South Davis Metro Fire Agency for the purchase emergency response equipment.
When the new equipment and controls are put into place, they are expected to reduce the amount of pollution that the Woods Cross refinery produces by 420 tons each year. This includes the reduction of emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, as well as other toxic chemicals that are hazardous to individual health as well as the environment.
Last modified: December 09, 2009.
