FHRPineBend.com - Emissions

Learn about Flint Hills Resources' pollution prevention efforts and how you too can make a difference.

On report pages, click here to see how much of the selected pollutant is reaching the environment.

Emission Reduction Initiative

Flint Hills Resources achieves 50 percent emission reduction goal. Click here for more information.

Refiners try to make every last drop of crude oil into products, but that's technically infeasible. Some of the crude oil is turned into fuels that are burned to run the refining process, and burning fuel puts chemicals into the air. Also, some vapors leak from pipes, tanks, and other equipment, and cause chemical releases into the air. Chemicals that result from burning fuel or leaking equipment are called emissions. Click on the Pollution Prevention icon to see what FHR does to prevent emissions. Emissions are usually measured in parts per million (one part of the chemical per million parts of air or water) and reported as pounds or tons.

Emissions interact in the environment - with the air, sunlight, and other chemicals. Some emissions last for only a few hours before they break down or form other chemicals. Some emissions last for days, weeks, or many decades. The amount and toxicity of a chemical in the environment determines the impact that chemical has on the environment.

The impacts, measured by MPCA monitoring stations located around the refinery, measure the chemicals that reach the station, whether they come from the refinery or from the exhaust of cars passing by, or are even blown in from another city. Concentrations of chemicals in the air we breathe or the water we drink are usually measured in parts per billion or parts per trillion (one part of the chemical in a billion or a trillion parts of air or water).

In 2004, FHR achieved its goal of reducing refinery emissions by 50 percent over five years. Here you can monitor refinery emissions. Go to the overall emissions page to see the cumulative total coming out of FHR's Pine Bend refinery. Then check out the air, water and waste management sections to see these numbers broken down by emissions into each segment of the environment - and by chemical.

In the air, water and waste sections, you will see a reporting tool that looks like this:

Select a Report

The three report types are:

a Historical and Regulatory graph that shows how much of that pollutant was emitted by FHR and what was allowed at the time
a Refinery Comparison Chart that shows how FHR's emissions compare to the best, worst and average refinery emissions in the United States (largest 50)
a Minnesota Comparison Chart that shows how FHR's emissions compare to other industries in the Minnesota (largest emitters based on TRI data)

The report will be generated with your last selection showing the information you requested. Look for the Data Quality statement on the report pages. This will show how FHR collected the data, what standards were used to ensure accuracy and, in some cases, what organization has confirmed FHR's numbers.

EMISSIONS DATA VERFICATION

The charts and graphs on this Web site are prepared using data that has been provided by FHR to public agencies, such as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Emissions measurements
FHR's permits specify the way in which FHR samples and analyzes emissions. These permit conditions frequently reference federal rules (e.g. 40 CFR 60, Appendix F) which set forth requirements for quality control and quality assurance of the data. If FHR wishes to use a different analysis, or to vary the way an analysis is done, it must receive express written approval from the MPCA prior to making the change.

Some emissions are measured directly. FHR has continuous air emissions monitors on the following sources:

Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) - SO2, NOx, CO, and opacity
Sulfur Recovery Units - SO2
Fuel combustion (fuel gas burned, sulfur content of fuel)
Vapor recovery on truck loading
Temperature of wastewater treatment plant oxidizer

Some of the newer heaters and boilers also have continuous NOx monitors, and some large heaters will shortly be equipped with such monitors, in accordance with the 2001 Clean Air Agreement. Other sources use performances tests, parametric monitoring, or other MPCA approved methods to estimate emissions.

Quality assurance is a large part of the monitoring effort. Air monitors which measure emissions directly are electronically calibrated daily, inspected daily or weekly, audited quarterly using certified gas samples, and certified annually by comparing results to another EPA calibrated monitor.

FHR measures wastewater emissions directly as well. Every day, an on-line sampler automatically generates a representative 24-hour composite sample that is analyzed for chemicals regulated under the water discharge permit. Some pollutants (for example oil and grease) won't keep for 24 hours, so a "grab" sample is taken when the composite sample is collected. Concentrations of pollutants are measured in FHR's laboratory. Duplicate, replicate, sample and lab blanks are run routinely for quality assurance. FHR also participates in round-robin testing with other Twin Cities laboratories, and in EPA's annual quality assurance program. Flow is measured directly, and pounds of water discharges are calculated by multiplying the flow times the concentration of each chemical. Temperature, pH, and flow are monitored continuously by on-line instruments.

Concentrations of some water chemicals (e.g. some of the metals) are analyzed only once a year or once every few years. This concentration times the annual flow for a given year are used to calculate the emissions of those chemicals. Whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing is performed by a certified, external laboratory at least twice per year.

Similarly, waste emissions are analyzed annually to determine concentrations, and the concentration times the mass of waste disposed gives the amount of that chemical released for that year.

Water and waste emission samples are checked by having duplicate and replicate samples run, using EPA calibration standards, and by participation in round-robin testing with other laboratories. FHR's lab, and other independent laboratories which FHR uses are certified by the Minnesota Department of Health and/or the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Other emissions are calculated; air emissions from tanks are calculated using an EPA formula based on the size of a tank, the type of roof, the material being stored, the throughput and temperature of that material, the ambient temperature and barometric pressure - even the color of the tank. Other emissions are based on emission factors, developed by the EPA; emissions from valves or pump seals are calculated based upon the monitoring reading (ppm organic vapor) using a correlation equation times the number of valves or pump seals. Valves and pump seals are typically monitored quarterly (but may qualify for less frequent monitoring), using an analyzer that is calibrated each time using EPA certified gas samples.

There are penalties for violating sampling and analysis rules.

MPCA and EPA review and data availability

MPCA and EPA review the data which FHR collects and reports. MPCA and EPA have audited all of FHR's monitoring methods, calculations, and quality assurance procedures. All of the data is available from the MPCA or US EPA. However, review by the MPCA or EPA does not constitute an endorsement of FHR, FHR's operations or products or the data presented here.

Data represented on this site has not been verified for accuracy by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Review of the underlying data by the University of Minnesota and the independent expert panel for accuracy does not constitute endorsement of the data, FHR's environmental performance or FHR's operations or products. The database was built by Zentropy and is maintained and hosted by Barr Engineering Company, an independent engineering, environmental, and information technology consulting firm in the employ of FHR.