Citgo plans to reduce emissions at South Portland tanks

Citgo Unveils Emissions‑Reduction Plan for South Portland Terminal After CDC Report Links Nearby Tanks to Cancer Risk

Citgo Petroleum Corporation said Wednesday that it will invest in new monitoring equipment, speed up infrastructure upgrades and review operating practices at its South Portland Terminal in order to lower air‑pollution levels. The announcement came a day after a packed city‑council meeting in which residents urged action over rising benzene levels and the potential health risks from the more than 100 petroleum tanks that dot the city.

The company’s statement follows a CDC‑backed study that drew on six years of ambient‑air data and found that residents living near the tanks may face higher risks of cancer and other chronic illnesses from prolonged exposure to carcinogenic emissions. The study highlighted benzene—an established human carcinogen—in concentrations that regularly surpassed state limits along fencelines at several tanks, including those at Citgo’s own terminal.

“ We hear the community’s concerns about the study findings and we take those concerns seriously,” said Karl Schmidt, Citgo’s vice‑president of supply and marketing. “We are not waiting for additional monitoring to take action. We are moving forward with emissions‑reduction measures, investing in expanded community monitoring and working with the city and Maine DEP as this effort progresses.”

Citgo’s plan will add “advanced detection and monitoring technologies,” accelerate infrastructure improvements, and “review its operating practices to identify more ways to reduce emissions.” The company operates three refineries, 43 active terminals and three pipelines nationwide.

A Community‑Driven Call for Action

The city’s residents are not new to the issue. James LaPlante, a local homeowner, told the council, “We want these corporations to behave like good neighbors. A good neighbor doesn’t poison you.” Other residents, such as Cathy Chapman, who has lived in South Portland for 15 years, and Julia Edwards, who reports daily smells of oil in her home and chronic headaches in her family, have long spoken about the health toll of the tanks.

Chelsea Byun, a resident and former Portland Press Herald editor, summed up the sentiment: “This is a very South Portland problem.” The tanks are visible from backyards, schools and the Greenbelt pathway that snakes through the city, a stark reminder of the industrial landscape that sits in close proximity to neighborhoods.

City Council and DEP Set to Take Next Steps

City councilors plan to host a workshop on December 1 to explore options for reducing toxic air emissions, including potential licensing fees for oil companies, mandatory installation of better emissions‑control technology, and collaboration with state legislators on new policies. Representatives from the CDC and Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) presented the study’s findings to the council and a crowd of more than 100 concerned residents at a high‑school auditorium on Tuesday night.

“Testing in the absence of further action is not acceptable for our community,” said Mayor Elyse Tipton. The DEP has recommended another year of data collection to better understand how benzene concentrations change beyond the immediate fenceline—a suggestion that some councilors view as insufficient.

The DEP is the state agency that issues air‑quality emissions licenses for petroleum tank farms and is responsible for enforcing federal regulations. In the past, the agency has faced criticism for not taking decisive action. A 2019 case involving Global Partners LP saw the DEP dismiss a violation notice that the EPA had issued on the same grounds, leading to a $40,000 settlement that many residents deemed too small. Similar disputes followed with Sprague Operating Resources LLC. Later that year, DEP officials admitted they had been wrong to resist federal enforcement, but doubts about the agency’s future actions remain.

Looking Ahead

Citgo’s commitments arrive at a critical juncture for South Portland. With the CDC study in the public eye and residents demanding tangible steps, the company’s new measures could help bridge the gap between industry operations and community health concerns. Whether the expanded monitoring and infrastructure upgrades will bring benzene levels below state guidelines—and whether the city council will enact stricter regulations—remains to be seen. The December workshop will likely set the tone for how the city moves forward in safeguarding the air quality of its neighborhoods.