Beginning in January 2018, refineries across the U.S. were required to measure average benzene concentrations at locations around their perimeters using a network of monitors. After the first full year of the program, EIP examined the monitoring reports for more than 100 refineries, which are publicly available on EPA’s website. As of the third quarter of 2019 (which ended on September 30, 2019), fenceline benzene levels at 10 refineries exceeded the EPA “action level” of 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a one-year period.
