Oil refineries release lots of water pollution near communities of color, data show

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/26/ [login to see] /oil-refineries-release-lots-of-water-pollution-near-communities-of-color-data-sh
Oil refineries release billions of pounds of pollution annually into waterways, and that pollution disproportionately affects people of color, according to a new analysis of Environmental Protection Agency regulatory data.

The pollution includes heavy metals, nitrogen and other compounds that can kill aquatic animals, feed harmful algae and make waterways dangerous for humans to fish in, swim in or even touch. The pollution affects communities across the country, but is especially concentrated along the Gulf Coast, in California and near Chicago.

The new findings underscore health and environmental dangers across fossil fuel operations, from the wellhead to pipelines, refineries and consumer use.

The report was published by the Environmental Integrity Project, an independent watchdog group that routinely analyzes public data collected by the EPA.

"This is a highly polluting industry discharging large volumes of wastewater," says Eric Schaeffer, executive director the Environmental Integrity Project, and former director of the EPA's Office of Civil Enforcement.