On February 24, 2012, the EPA entered into an administrative settlement agreement with BP for its failure to meet the testing requirements under the benzene credit generation regulations at its Whiting refinery. Any refinery that generated early benzene credits was required to test a representative sample from each batch of gasoline produced. From June 1, 2007 until December 31, 2010, the BP Whiting refinery produced conventional (CG) and reformulated gasoline (RFG), which it used to generate 36,937,292 benzene credits. During that time, BP tested each batch of RFG that it produced, but failed to test each batch of CG, as required.
BP has agreed to surrender to the EPA and never use, bank, or transfer 6,400,000 benzene credits. The retirement of these benzene credits has a significant environmental and human health impact. It results in the reduction of the amount of benzene in gasoline, and reduces the benzene emissions from the storage and use of gasoline. BP has also agreed to pay a $294,000 penalty.