Timeline of some Hess Oil/HOVENSA events with related documents
1979
The Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (e-book available through university libraries)
- Oil spill prevention & pollution control under the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, page 46, 48, 68
1981
VI Senate approves a 16-year tax agreement with HOVIC commonly known as the 1st extension agreement. HOVIC agrees to pay $219 million to the local government over the next 5 years, $744 million over the life of the agreement and pay to the government 2 cents for each barrel exported from the territory
- The extension agreement mentioned in the case Government of USVI v Hess Corporation (September 2015): Government of the USVI v. Hess Corporation (Sept 2015) – Full Civil Complaint [PDF] (page 10-13) The paper contains a section about history of the relationship between USVI government and Hess Corporation (page 6-47).
- And briefly mentioned in Debtor’s Motion for Entry of Order (September 2015) https://cases.primeclerk.com/hovensa/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MTg4NzE5
1990s
University of the Virgin Islands gave 300 acres of land to Hess Oil in late 1990s
News about UVI’s wetlands reservation plan stated that UVI sold 300 acres of a given land to Hess Oil. The university retained 52 acres as wetlands and Hess promised to donate for wildlife preservation: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/CA01300919/00088,
- UVI’s Eco-Educational tour page 8 https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00096200/00001/2j)
1990
VI Senate approves 2nd extension & amendment agreement that was clarified to accurately reflect that benefits provided to HOVIC applied to all materials and products brought into the VIs to be consumer
- Mentioned in the case Government of USVI v Hess Corporation (September 2015): Government of the USVI v. Hess Corporation (Sept 2015) – Full Civil Complaint [PDF] (page 13-17)
1993
The VI government amends the 2nd extension agreement to make HOVIC and all of its affiliates liable for any taxes, excises, duties, or any wharfage, tonnage or ships dues at the marine facilities.
1998
VI Senate approves a 3rd extension agreement & increases the fee per barrel exported form the VIs from 2 cents to 5 cents
- Mentioned in the case Government of USVI v Hess Corporation (September 2015): Government of the USVI v. Hess Corporation (Sept 2015) – Full Civil Complaint [PDF] (page 17-24)
2005
In March 2005, the V.I. Planning & Natural Resources Dept file a major lawsuit in District Court charging HOVENSA & owners of the neighboring alumina plant (Harvey Alumina) contaminated the groundwater.
- Court cases from October 2008 to January 2014 (28 cases) can be found at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-vid-1_05-cv-00062
- Agreement and consent decree (signed on February 15, 2012) available at http://www.federal-litigation.com/SCRG-ConsentDecree.pdf
- news about the department claims refineries and alumina plants for polluted groundwater (June 2005)
https://stcroixsource.com/2005/06/09/dpnr-claims-refinery-polluted-groundwater/
- news “Territory Wins Environmental Lawsuit” (June 2014) https://stcroixsource.com/2014/06/14/territory-wins-environmental-lawsuit/
- news about HOVENSA is in breach of the settlement agreement and government actions (February 3, 2015) https://stcroixsource.com/2015/01/31/government-attempts-foreclose-hovensa-refinery/
2010
June 2010
EPA response to HOVENSA Gas Turbine Nitrogen Oxides (GT NOx) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permit Application
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/stp1net.pdf
December 2010
A series of chemical releases adversely affected the communities surrounding HOVENSA led the VI DPNR and the USEPA to issues notices of violating, which included hefty fines (find docs for notices and fines and related materials)– News: https://stcroixsource.com/2010/12/13/dpnr-preparing-fine-hovensa-recent-leaks/
2011
The EPA & the US Justice Dept lodged a consent decree in U.S. District Ct that will force HOVENSA to invest $7000 mill in capital projects to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs:
- Consent decree (available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/hovensa-cd.pdf)
- EPA’s online source about this case: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/hovensa-llc-clean-air-act-settlement
- News: https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/refining/article/17264984/hovensa-settles-federal-air-pollution-charges-with-doj-epa
https://stthomassource.com/content/2011/01/27/hovensa-pay-53m-fines-spend-710m-upgrades/
https://archive.epa.gov/epapages/newsroom_archive/newsreleases/2e321f78933fa2e685257824005812cd.html
In May 2011, the EPA commissioned a Volatile Organic Compound Study through DPNR to identify and quantify the presence of any volatile organic compounds in the neighborhoods surrounding STX’s southern industrial complex, including Central HS.
In addition to routine sampling, the DPNR release said the department has been authorized by the EPA to begin a 24-hour sampling run to determine the cause of this week’s odors. The samples were shipped Wednesday to the Eastern research group in North Carolina with a request for expedited analysis
- News: “EPA Issues Final Report of Air Toxics Study in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands–Public Meeting to be held on August 23” (August 2011): https://archive.epa.gov/epapages/newsroom_archive/newsreleases/9121b0e86dc5e33c852578f000604135.html
- (EPA’s report title “Conditions in the
U.S. Virgin Islands
Warrant EPA Withdrawing Approval and Taking Over Management of Some Environmental Programs” in April 2015). The report mentions several USVI’s mismanagements and deficiencies which increase risks in contaminations in air, water, and land. The scope is around 2003-2015. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/20150417-15-p-0137.pdf)
August 2011: EPA & DPNR reported on a 4-month study of 60 air born compounds
- Special Air Toxics Monitoring Study St. Croix August 2011 (available at https://www3.epa.gov/region02/waste/hovensa/hovensa-VI-Fact-Sheet-Aug-18.pdf)
- Related news:
- The study: https://stcroixsource.com/2011/02/16/epa-studying-air-around-hovensa/ https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/article/17267196/epa-begins-3month-air-pollution-study-near-hovensa-refinery
- Result: https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/government/article/17264581/air-toxins-near-hovensa-refinery-found-below-danger-levels
- Public responses: https://visourcearchives.com/content/2011/08/26/angry-public-confronts-epa-officials-about-hovensa-pollution/
2014
March 23- April 4, 2014: DPNR’s Executive Summary Operation Breathe Easy II St. Croix Central High School Odor Investigation https://stthomassource.com/files/userfiles/file/02014/OPERATION%20BREATHE%20EASY%20II–EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY.pdf
2015
October 2015: Answer of Hovensa L.L.C. to Administrative Complaint and Request for Hearing and Informal Settlement Conference
December 2015:
Operating Agreement by and among The Government of USVI and Limetree Bay Terminals LLC: http://www.federal-litigation.com/Images/2015%2012%2001%20Operating%20Agreement-GVI-Arclight.pdf
2017
July 2017
VI Superior Court’s Memorandum Opinion and Order In re: Refinery Hydrocarbon Release Litigation: https://cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_12810747/File/Opinions/Archive/In%20re%20Refinery%20Hydrocarbon%20Release%20(DAB).pdf The document includes some detail about court cases that individual sued Hovensa for polluting the air from 2010-2012.
Topical-based Info
Hess Oil Virgin Island Corp (HOVIC) Coker Loading Dock project
- “Coker on Schedule for February 2002 Completion,” December 8, 2000. https://stcroixsource.com/2000/12/08/coker-schedule-february-2002-completion/
- Some information about the delayed coking unit in Hess Corporation 2010 report at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=101801&p=irol-reportsAnnual
- Complaint about the coke loading dock in USVI v Hess Complaint (September 2015) available at: http://www.federal-litigation.com/Images/2015-09-14%20USVI%20v%20Hess%20Complaint%20Clean.pdf
HOVENSA wastewater
- September 2000: EPA Documentation of Environmental Indicator Determination-HOVENSA (HOVENSA’s wastewater management): https://www3.epa.gov/region02/waste/hoven750.pdf
- Plott C, Hanson G, and Mickler J. “Improving Flexibility in Wastewater Treatment.” Hydrocarbon Engineering 15, no. 6 (2010): 64-70. (Can be requested through the interlibrary loan) The article indicates that HOVENSA’s wastewater treatment needs an upgrade and suggests revisions.