HOUSTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Louisiana officials haveapproved variances in pollution levels requested by MotivaEnterprises for an upcoming overhaul of a sulfurrecovery unit at its 235,000 barrel per day (bpd) Convent,Louisiana, refinery, according to notices filed with theLouisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
No start and end date for the overhaul of SRU No. 5 waslisted in the notices visible on the Louisiana DEQ website, butthe variance expires on Nov. 20 and Motiva said the work wouldlast for 63 days.
Motiva spokeswoman Destin Singleton declined to discussMotiva's overhaul plans for the Convent refinery.
"Please note that the Motiva Convent Refinery is operatingas planned (this maintenance does not currently affect refineryoperations)," Singleton wrote in an email on Thursday.
Louisiana granted the variance because "the turnaroundemissions currently permitted will not be sufficient to performall activities during the turnaround," wrote Sam Phillips,assistant secretary of environmental quality, in granting theexception allowing the refinery to release more pollution duringthe overhaul than authorized by operating permits.
A sulfur recovery unit extracts sulfur from hydrogen sulfideremoved from motor fuels and their feedstocks in compliance withU.S. environmental regulations. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Eric Walsh)
