An oil refinery on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands will not be able to start operating once again until it receives a new type of permit under the Clean Air Act.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the refinery would need what's called a Prevention of Significant Deterioration in a Nov. 17 news release.
“This will ensure protections for St. Croix by requiring the refinery to operate in compliance with environmental laws designed to protect people’s health and the environment," EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in the release.
In order to receive this new kind of permit, the company would need to adopt the best available technology to manage air pollution and have detailed air quality reports, the release stated. An emergency order first halted operations there back in May 2021.
Regan said he's devoted to "prioritizing the health and safety of underserved and overburdened communities across this country and holding polluters accountable," which is why the agency is using laws available to mandate the company analyze its impact on air quality, according to the release.
In the release, EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia said the agency was ensuring it made good on its promise to "deliver environmental justice and ensure that EPA protects the health of every community."
