Jul. 24--On paper, the levels of pollutants the Holly Corporation oil refinery is allowed to emit from two heaters could increase if the Utah Division of Air Quality approves new standards.

But in actuality, says a Holly representative, emissions from those two heaters are actually going down, since the old burners were replaced.

For West Bountiful Mayor James Behunin, whose city neighbors the refinery, that notion "is a bit confusing to everybody: how a decrease can be an increase. ... The bottom line: Is this plant going to be putting out more emissions as a plant than it has in the years past? Both DAQ and Holly are saying 'no."

While it's possible emissions from the two combustion heaters are actually less, said DAQ environmental permitting engineer John Jenks, it's impossible to know how much less, since the Environmental Protection Agency didn't have performance tests or emissions limits on the old boilers.

The DAQ is accepting public comments on the proposed changes, which stem from a 2008 agreement between the Holly refinery in Woods Cross and EPA, which included Holly's commitment toward making $17 million in improvements.

The EPA's reviews of Holly's nationwide facilities -- not the Woods Cross refinery specifically -- prompted the changes that have also affected other plants, Jenks said.

Jenks noted the refinery is not being allowed to increase its entire plant's daily or yearly emissions, despite the change to

the boilers. Those heaters, Jenks said, are mostly fueled by natural gas but can also burn plant gas created in the refining process.

As the EPA mandated new requirements, the old burners were replaced with new models, which had EPA estimates emitting far lower levels of nitrogen oxides, said Mike Astin, Holly's environmental manager.

But once the EPA tested those new burners, emissions were higher than expected, he said, but still less than the old burners' emissions.

"The simple story is the level of permitted emission is rising, but the actual emissions are going down," Astin said, of the proposal to allow an annual increase of 39.9 tons of nitrogen-oxides emissions.

Still, Behunin awaits the data detailing actual decreased levels of pollution. Behunin said Holly representatives agreed to send the information after meeting with the West Bountiful City Council earlier this week.

"I would like to say that the folks at Holly are very much working hard to upgrade their facility," Behunin added, "and by upgrading their facility, it should reduce the pollutants coming out of that plant."

Holly's general emissions are being reduced, Astin said, and more improvements will continue through 2012.

A few southern Davis County residents and grassroots environmental groups have been reviewing the proposed changes for the refinery.

As dense as the permitting document's language is, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment president Brian Moench hopes the changes aren't an attempt to finagle a future increase in emissions, since studies "clearly suggest the levels of air pollution that we already have are a medical concern."

mariav@sltrib.com

City aims to monitor own air quality

There's an air monitoring station in Bountiful next to Viewmont High School, but that doesn't seem to accurately reflect the conditions in his community, said West Bountiful Mayor James Behunin. His city is farther away from the foothills and closer to industrial zones than that station is.

To better test the air, West Bountiful recently included in its budget purchasing and installing six air monitors around the city. Though the roughly $1,500 monitors might not be as sophisticated as state equipment, it will help the city better understand the effects of refineries and industries nearby.

To make a comment

The DAQ will receive comments on the proposal until Sept. 9. A location and date for a public hearing are still being determined. The proposed changes for the Holly oil refinery can be viewed at http://www.airquality.utah.gov/Permits/Report_NSR_Public_Comment.htm

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