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At the Shell Puget Sound Refinery, we take environmental stewardship very seriously. This is evidenced by the prestigious awards received in the last few years as well as the on-going efforts that do not normally receive attention.
AWARDS
For the last several years, while the plant was owned by Equilon (a joint venture of Shell and Texaco), the plant won many environmental awards. This excellence in environmental stewardship is being pursued under the new ownership of Shell. Here are just a few examples of awards:
Water quality compliance has been 100% for three years running following the installation of the wastewater treatment facility. This effort was recognized by the parent company, Equilon Enterprises LLC, at their Director's meeting. The plant received the 2001 CEO Environmental Leadership Award for having the best compliance record and for setting new benchmarks for cost effectiveness.
As Puget Sound Refining Company, the refinery received a "Clean Air Excellence Award" from the federal Environmental Protection Agency at a special ceremony in St. Paul on September 21, 2000. The recognition comes after the refinery volunteered for the second summer in a row to refine and market lower vapor pressure gasoline in King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties. Although such fuel is more costly to produce, it significantly reduces evaporative and tailpipe emissions under warm weather conditions.
According to PSCAA Executive Director Dennis McLerran, the region had previously come quite close to violating federal smog standards during the summer months. But PSRC's efforts (with other refineries) "helped us keep our clean air status by reducing tailpipe emissions and evaporative emissions from gasoline on a hot day by an estimated 10-15 percent. That's about 15 tons of emissions."
The voluntary agreement to produce low vapor pressure gas, added McLerran, is unique in the nation. "But it had a direct benefit for the entire Puget Sound region," he said, "protecting the health of 3.5 million people and helping to avoid violating the federal air quality standard for ozone."
- PSCAA Clean Air Partner Award
In 1999, PSRC was awarded a special "Clean Air Partner Award" by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for its commitment to fighting summer smog. The refinery was also nominated for a Governor's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention. This recognition came after this refinery, along with four other oil refining companies, volunteered to refine and market lower vapor pressure gasoline during the summer of 1999 in King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties. The lower vapor pressure gas significantly reduced evaporative and tailpipe emissions by about 15 percent.
- AWB Environmental Excellence Award
PSRC received the Association of Washington Business Environmental Excellence Award for water quality in 1998 after completing an $11 million upgrade to our wastewater treatment capacity. The advanced new facility recycles petroleum hydrocarbons, treats residual wastewater, and exceeds stringent state and federal standards. It helps us reuse water wisely and creatively, and helps keep local waters clean, as well.
CONTINUING INVESTMENT
In 2000 PSRC expanded its sulfur recovery capacity by 50 percent, at a cost of nearly $13 million. This expansion has the potential to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by about 1,700 tons a year, and nitrogen oxide emissions by about 500 tons. The Sulfur Recovery Unit allows for recovery and sale of additional sulfur as a valuable byproduct.
In March 2001 the alliance companies including Equilon and Puget Sound Refining Company entered into a voluntary agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency relating to plant emissions. In that agreement, Shell PSR will be investing approximately $50 million in upgraded equipment to reduce emissions from plant processes. In addition, Shell PSR is providing $500,000 in local funds to assist Skagit County organizations to reduce pollution and improve quality of life.
For more details regarding the refinery's continuing commitment to protecting the environment, contact:
Manager, Safety, Health and Environment
SHELL Puget Sound Refinery
P.O. Box 622
Anacortes, WA 98221-0622
(360) 293-0800 | 
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