Baton Rouge area - environment

ongoing effort to improve environmental performance
At ExxonMobil, it is our policy to conduct our business in a manner that is compatible with the balanced environmental and economic needs of the communities in which we operate. The Baton Rouge Refinery has been one of the early leaders in installing the wet gas scrubber (1976) and the flare gas recovery system (1982), which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls the "hallmarks of pollution prevention for modern refineries." We also have a wastewater treatment facility and a sulfur recovery unit.

We are focused on operating more efficiently. In 2007, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery received the ENERGY STAR Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes organizations nationwide that adopt cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies and practices and better manage their energy costs. All of our Baton Rouge sites are investing to find energy savings, which will also help to reduce emissions.

steam: not pollution but a sign of care
Steam plumes visible along the North Baton Rouge skyline, especially on cool mornings, are testimony to our ongoing effort to improve environmental performance. The largest plume rises above the wet gas scrubber where water "scrubs" out dust-like particles, sulfur dioxide and ammonia. Steam also rises above cooling towers where water is cooled and recycled. This steam is a visual sign of ExxonMobil’s efforts to protect our environment.

our relationship with the mighty Mississippi
Our docks carry out continuous shipping and are equipped to lessen the environmental impact. The marine vapor recovery system picks up hydrocarbon vapors from loading vessels, directs them into the recovery unit and destroys them, which reduces ozone precursors. The docks also have oil spill recovery boats staffed by trained response teams.

We recognize Baton Rouge is growing, therefore its drinking water needs are growing. We have worked to expand the use of clarified river water to reduce the total amount of ground water withdrawal. In fact, we have reduced the use of groundwater by 600,000 gallons per day. In 2004, the Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission gave ExxonMobil its top award for these efforts.

we help understand and address the ozone problem
We are committed to helping the city, parish, and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) understand and address the ozone problem. In addition to significant, sustained volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions reductions over time, we have taken several steps to help solve the problem, including modifying operations to reduce emissions during Ozone Alerts and taking a leadership position in LDEQ/industry efforts to understand the complex chemistry associated with ozone formation.