-Refiners successfully petitioned for an extension of the EPA’s comment period on refinery emissions rules the agency proposed in May. Via The Hill, the deadline for public comment has been extended 60 days to Oct. 28. The new rules would require benzene monitoring, place new emission limits on storage tanks and impose restrictions on flaring during malfunctions.
-The Department of Energy today finalized changes in the way it evaluates LNG export applications. Via Platts, the DOE will now wait until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has completed its environmental review of an LNG export project before it begins reviewing the project’s export authorization request. Some in the LNG export business are concerned that the end of conditional approvals from the DOE could cause potential investors to shy away from their projects.
-Lanxess Corp. is adding a second production line to its high-tech plastics facility in Gastonia, N.C. The facility’s existing capacity will double to 40,000 metric tons per year as a result of the expansion. Construction is expected to begin this year, with production set to begin in early 2016.
-Tesoro hired Celanese CFO Steven Serin to fill its top finance position in the wake of Scott Spendlove’s departure. Tesoro also named Cynthia (CJ) Warner executive vice president, strategy and business development. Warner previously served as president and CEO of Sapphire Energy. She also served as group vice president of global refining for BP.
-Irving Oil CEO Paul Browning has left the company after less than two years in office. Via Reuters, the company offered no details on his departure or when a successor might be named. Irving operates a 300,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick.
