Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent decision to pause operations at the Limetree Bay Refinery on St. Croix:
“My office has been in discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and have been informed this afternoon that the EPA ordered Limetree Bay Terminals LLC and Limetree Bay Refining LLC (Limetree Bay) to pause all operations at its St. Croix refinery due to multiple cases of improperly conducted operations that present an imminent risk to public health.
“Under its legal authorities in the Clean Air Act, EPA may take urgent measures if and when an entity’s actions substantially endanger public health, welfare or the environment. Limetree Bay is in a community that is disproportionately affected by environmental burdens and recent incidents have raised significant environmental justice concerns, according to EPA.
“I will have further discussions and a briefing with the EPA on Monday, and I will, of course, share our community’s pressing concerns. My team has reached out to Limetree as well as the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) and will share any updates or additional information with the people of the territory.”
