
Which chemicals will be banned at Petrochemical plants?
Posted May 11, 2018 09:53:56 In the wake of the release of the final draft of the United States’ national greenhouse gas inventory, there are some new concerns that petrochemicals might be on the chopping block.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there is a high risk of “deteriorating” the global climate by disrupting the balance of natural and man-made greenhouse gases.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that the U.S. currently accounts for more than 30% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and many of those emissions are concentrated in the power sector, including petroprocessing facilities.
According the GAO report, the use of petroprocessors is expected to be the largest contributor to U. S. greenhouse gas emission since 2005.
In 2016, the petrobusinesses account for a staggering 70% of greenhouse gas pollution in the U, and the EPA is expected make its final decision on the future of the petroleums in 2019.
A few of the biggest petrocarbon companies that will be impacted by the draft decision include BASF, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, DuPont, and United Technologies.
According a GAO analysis of the EPA’s draft environmental impact statement, the following chemicals are in the process of being banned: benzene, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenyls, formaldehyde derivatives, ethylene oxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, ethylbenzene, trichloroethylene, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, dichloromethane, methylbenzyl alcohols, triclosan, and toluol.
The draft environmental assessment will go through a public comment period before it is released in 2020.
“It is critical that the public has an opportunity to comment on this important decision,” said Gina M. Kavanagh, acting assistant administrator for the Environmental Resource Planning Office.
“Petrochemical companies are the largest polluters of the air, water, and land that we all depend on for food, water and fuel, and they play a critical role in our economy, environment and security.”
The new petroelectric plant rules include a number of other restrictions, including a ban on the use and sale of “concentrated petrofuels,” and a ban that limits the use or transfer of petroleum waste.
The proposed rule would also prohibit the use, distribution, and sale in the United State of any “conventional or synthetic fuels or chemicals.”
A number of petrotum manufacturers have also expressed concerns over the proposed petroenergy regulations.
According an Environmental Protection agency spokesperson, “The petrogas industry has made its concerns known to the EPA, and EPA has responded with a draft proposal to address those concerns.”
Petrogas company DuPont said that “the EPA has not acted with sufficient urgency to address the concerns of the industry,” and the company plans to continue to fight the proposed regulations.
“This process is going to take some time and we will continue to push back against the regulatory process that the EPA has set for us,” DuPont wrote in a statement.
“The American Petroleum Institute, which represents the industry, has also been clear that it supports the development of clean energy.”
According to a draft draft Environmental Impact Statement issued by the EPA in 2016, petropower plants are “largely concentrated in large, low-income and rural areas.”
In addition to the petrotourism industry, the draft order could affect the chemical industry as well, as the chemical companies are already prohibited from using petro-products, such as flame retardants and flame-retardant agents.
According another draft environmental statement, “petrochemical and related facilities can be a major source of hazardous waste, and we believe that these wastes are particularly problematic in low-lying areas, particularly those located in developing nations where there is little economic opportunity.”
The draft EPA draft rules also include a ban of all substances containing synthetic hydrocarbs, including ethylene, propylene, butyl, and butadiene.
These substances are also used in industrial processes, including the processing of petrol, diesel, jet fuel, petrol derivatives, and lubricants.
According GMA, a number other petrocompanies are also concerned about the draft regulations.
General Electric, Dow, Du Pont, and General Motors have all sent letters to the Trump administration, and several other major petro companies have also sent letters.
The Petroleums Industry Institute, a trade group representing the petrotechnology industry, is also concerned.
“A number of companies, including Dow, BASF and ExxonMobil have already submitted written letters to EPA, asking the agency to expedite its decision and clarify the rules for the petroprochemical industry,” said a spokesperson. “As