INDUSTRIAL FLARES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS FILE A FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER AIR POLLUTION FROM THESE FLARES
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s we know them, flares are crucial safety devices used in refineries and petrochemical facilities to safely burn excess hydrocarbon, which cannot be recycled, or dangerous organic compounds such as benzene. But again, on the other hand, we are all aware of the byproducts of combustion, especially flaring, which releases major greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. However, the flare technique is effective as a pollution control method only if operated correctly. All across the US, thousands of industrial flares blaze, burning excess waste gases, releasing smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other hazardous pollutants such as carcinogenic benzene that are a great threat to the surrounding community. Regarding that, a coalition of ten environmental organizations on October 29, 2020, sued the Trump administration’s EPA over its failure to bring down the growing air pollution from industrial flares from petrochemical plants, gas processing facilities, municipal solid waste landfills, and other industrial sites across the country. The organizations that filed the lawsuit, after sending notices of intent to sue EPA sent on June 11 and August 17, 2020, include; Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), Clean Air Council, Air Alliance Houston,
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THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2020
