Publication Summary

The State of Washington Department of Ecology retained the services of Jacobs Consultancy Inc. to perform a study for the purpose of identifying ways to reduce or avoid water pollution through pollution prevention opportunities that may be applicable to Washington refineries.

As stated by the Department of Ecology in its Request for Qualifications and Quotations (RFQQ) for this study, "pollution prevention strategies focus on selecting or changing in-plant processes or materials so as to avoid or reduce the use or generation of wastes harmful to the environment or to environmental control systems…[and] avoid shifting pollutants from one environmental medium to another." Such strategies are aimed at source reduction rather than treatment or disposal and could include "changing process design, operational methods or procedures, maintenance practices, or selection of raw materials or chemicals used." Other objectives are "to reduce the impacts of process-generated pollutants on treatment systems and the environment" and "to promote efficient use of materials through such methods as in-process or in-plant recycling of materials or wastes."

The study consisted of the following basic steps:

• Identifying Candidate Pollution Prevention Strategies - Performing a literature search of past pollution prevention projects and philosophies in the refining industry - Determining the refining process configurations of the five Washington refineries - Developing a questionnaire to distribute to the refiners and requesting their voluntary responses regarding pollution prevention practices and data relative to the Pollutants of Concern defined by the Department of Ecology - Evaluating questionnaires and literature search results to identify pollution prevention opportunities and analyzing the applicability of the more promising opportunities, with special consideration given to the Pollutants of Concern - Addressing special topics, including the formation of dioxins and furans in catalytic reforming processes and means to reduce or eliminate their production, and others identified as relevant to Washington pollution prevention efforts.

• Conducting a One-Day Seminar - Conducting a one-day seminar for the Washington refiners and the Department of Ecology to present the findings of the study and to stimulate interaction and discussion about pollution prevention opportunities - Preparing a written summary of the seminar results to be included in the final report

• Preparing the Final Report

This report presents the results of this study.