Motiva Enterprises LLC, Equilon Enterprises LLC, and
Deer Park Refining Limited Partnership Civil Judicial Settlement
Fact Sheet
March 21, 2001
Overview: The settlement announced commits nine refineries owned by Motiva, Equilon, and the
Deer Park Refining Limited Partnership (Shell Deer Park) to an ambitious program to assure
compliance with major provisions of the Clean Air Act. The companies expect to spend a total of
$400 million over eight years to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by an estimated 8,000
tons per year, sulfur dioxide (SO2) by more than 49,550 tons per year, and particulate matter
(PM) by 1,300 tons per year.
The consent decree provides for a limited pool of emission reductions that can be used to expedite
production of clean fuels to meet “Tier II” and low sulfur diesel standards that begin to take effect
in 2004. These provisions, which will help eliminate clean fuel production bottlenecks that could
shrink supply and raise prices, are subject to review by state and local permit authorities.
Refineries Compliance Strategy: This is the third settlement in a federal strategy for achieving
cooperative across-the-board compliance with U.S. refining companies. Last year the federal
government reached similar and record settlements with BP and Koch Petroleum Group, two of
the nation’s largest oil refiners. When combined with BP and Koch, the three agreements cover
nearly 25 percent of total U.S. refining capacity.
EPA also is engaged in settlement negotiations with several other companies comprising an
additional 25 percent of total U.S. refining capacity.
State Partnerships: The states of Delaware and Louisiana, and the Northwest Air Pollution
Authority (NWAPA) have joined in this settlement. NWAPA is the Washington State’s regional
regulatory agency charged with enforcing air pollution laws in Island, Skagit, and Whatcom
counties. The states of Delaware and Louisiana will share in the civil penalty and all plaintiffs will
benefit from additional environmental pr