Unocal reports 25 percent emissions reduction

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Unocal Corp. said May 13 that overall chemical releases from its Nikiski nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility were down 25 percent between 1997 and 1996.

The company reported the results in a “Toxic Release Inventory” filing with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1997 is the latest year for which data is available.

Because ammonia makes up 95 percent of all the plant’s emissions, Unocal began an ammonia emission reduction program in 1986. Since then, the company said, it has decreased the facility’s total emissions by 98 percent.

Additional water scrubbers and ammonia flares installed in 1997 accounted for the most recent 25 percent reduction.

Unocal said that a 1993 risk assessment by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation showed that the plant’s emissions then were not harmful to the surrounding community or the environment.