HF Sinclair Navajo Reaches Settlement to Address Compliance & Air Quality Issues in Artesia

HF Sinclair Navajo Reaches Settlement to Address Compliance & Air Quality Issues in Artesia

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For the residents of Artesia, New Mexico, clean air has been a long time coming. Years of living in the shadow of HF Sinclair Navajo’s refinery—grappling with elevated benzene levels and smog-inducing emissions—have taken their toll on a community already bearing more than its fair share of pollution. But now, thanks to a recent settlement brokered by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), there’s a renewed promise of relief.

HF Sinclair Navajo has agreed to a $172 million settlement to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and New Mexico Air Quality Control Act. It’s a significant step forward, but for the people of Artesia, the true measure of progress will be in the air they breathe every day.

In 2018 and 2019, emissions monitoring at the refinery revealed alarming concentrations of benzene—levels that placed the facility at the top of the national charts for refinery pollution. HF Sinclair Navajo’s failure to rein in emissions, monitor air quality effectively, and comply with regulations created not just environmental concerns, but public health risks.

The refinery’s troubles extended across a spectrum of compliance gaps, from flaring violations to inadequate leak detection and repair programs. Hazardous pollutants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) leaked into the air, creating a ripple effect of health risks and environmental harm.

For years, Artesia’s residents—particularly vulnerable groups like children at Roselawn Elementary School, located just a stone’s throw from the refinery—have lived with these pollutants hanging in the air.

The Settlement: Dollars, Data, & Diligence

The settlement’s $35 million penalty may grab headlines, but the heart of the deal lies in the company’s $137 million commitment to upgrading its operations. This isn’t just about paying fines, it’s about fundamentally changing how the refinery operates.

The Plan at a Glance:

  • Benzene in Check: Measures to reduce 180 tons of hazardous air pollutants annually, including benzene.
  • VOC Reductions: Cut 2,716 tons of VOCs, which contribute to smog and respiratory issues.
  • Greenhouse Gas Benefits: Lower emissions equivalent to 97,551 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
  • Transparency First: The installation of 10 fenceline air pollution monitors and six community monitors, with real-time data shared publicly online.

These upgrades aim to do more than just check boxes on a regulatory to-do list. They’re designed to provide tangible health and climate benefits—making the air cleaner not just for compliance’s sake, but for the people who live and breathe near the refinery.

Holding Industry Accountable

“This settlement is overdue relief for the community,” said Dr. Earthea Nance, EPA Regional Administrator. She pointed to Roselawn Elementary School as a symbol of why rigorous enforcement matters. It’s one thing to talk about air quality abstractly, but when it’s schoolchildren inhaling pollutants every day, the stakes become all too real.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Katherine E. Konschnik echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the settlement sends a message to the industry: cutting corners on compliance isn’t just a financial risk—it’s a moral and legal one, too.

For compliance professionals, the HF Sinclair Navajo settlement offers a blueprint—and a warning.

  1. Transparency Builds Trust: Real-time monitoring and publicly accessible data represent a new gold standard. Companies that embrace transparency earn credibility, not just with regulators but with their communities.
  2. Proactivity Pays Dividends: Waiting for a regulator to knock on the door is a losing strategy. Investments in monitoring and emissions controls upfront can prevent costly penalties and reputational damage later.
  3. Accountability Isn’t Optional: The fines and compliance measures here reflect a broader trend where regulators are no longer content with half-measures. Expectations for corporate accountability are only rising.
The Human Side of Compliance

Beyond the technicalities and dollars is a story about people. Artesia isn’t just a dot on a map; it’s a place where families live, work, and go to school. For them, this settlement isn’t about legal jargon or emissions charts—it’s about breathing easier, literally and figuratively.

For HF Sinclair Navajo, the settlement isn’t just a line item in a financial report. It’s a second chance to operate responsibly and regain trust. And for compliance professionals, it’s a reminder that behind every regulation is a human story—one that can’t be ignored.

As Artesia watches the refinery’s next steps, it has become increasingly clear that compliance isn’t just about rules; it’s about doing right by the people impacted most. The question now is whether HF Sinclair Navajo can rise to meet that challenge.

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