Why Should Delaware Care?
Another release of harmful chemicals at the Delaware City refinery has prompted state environmental regulators to demand the company install real-time monitoring. Residents and advocates have called for such measures for years.
Ongoing violations at the Delaware City oil refinery owned by PBF Energy have prompted state officials to demand the company install air monitoring systems to detect the release of hazardous pollutants.
Since Friday, Dec. 12, when the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced its demands, the refinery has reported at least three additional releases of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, including another continuous release that sent 1,000 pounds of chemicals into the atmosphere per hour.
But it was an overnight release of butane that lasted well into Thanksgiving Day that prompted regulators to issue an official order demanding the refinery install more pollution sensors. The refinery erroneously reported how much butane had leaked and for how long: DNREC has learned the release was more than 50 times what was first publicly reported.
Initially the refinery — which self-reports emissions to the state, according to permit requirements — only reported 1,000 pounds of butane released over the span of a few hours. But in reality, butane and other related, flammable volatile organic compounds were emitted over a span of 19 hours. In total, officials discovered the refinery released 108.75 tons of chemicals, including 49,500 pounds of butane alone.
“Unfortunately, the refinery has had three significant environmental incidents this year and was not aware of this most recent release for some time,” DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson said in a statement. “While DNREC has been working toward additional community monitors, demanding that the refinery quickly install fenceline sensors is a step that we believe is now necessary. But it is not the end of our response to ensure future releases can be detected sooner and the public can see the data directly.”
PBF Energy did not respond to multiple interview requests.
The order itself indicates the problem was caused by another equipment failure at the plant. Reports show equipment malfunctions are also to blame for the most recent sulfur dioxide releases, as well as another incident involving an unknown amount of carbon monoxide.
Expanded air sensors that can track pollution traveling outside of the plant’s fenceline have been suggested for the site before — most recently after equipment failures at the plant this summer led to the continuous release of sulfur dioxide for over two weeks straight. The problem meant the refinery released 1,450 pounds per hour of the pollutant, which is harmful when inhaled and can cause acid rain, around the clock from late May into June.
Company and state officials say that incident didn’t pose an immediate threat to public health because even though the amount was large, the concentration in the air was low enough not to cause concern.
“I was deeply alarmed — and frankly a little scared — to see yet another report of a chemical release at the Delaware City refinery,” House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown (D-New Castle), who represents the area where the refinery lies, said in a statement. “No family in our community should have to worry about what their children are breathing or whether they’re being exposed to preventable toxins.”
DNREC also said in Friday’s release that officials do not believe the Nov. 26-27 incident posed an immediate or long-term health threat. Butane is heavier than air and can be toxic if people inhale large amounts of the chemical directly. It’s used in many industrial applications, and is found in fossil fuels like petroleum.
In its public statement, DNREC said PBF has 70 days to install a real-time air sensor system at the property’s fenceline. It’s unclear what penalties the company would face if it does not comply; the company could appeal the order to do so, as well.
Earlier this year, Spotlight Delaware reported the state would provide $500,000 for a project to install air sensors around the facility. That project is still being finalized, according to DNREC and the Clean Air Council.
DNREC also indicated there will be forthcoming regulations in 2026 to adopt fenceline monitoring requirements for industrial facilities like the refinery.