Investigation of Howell Refinery's Effluent and Disposal Area - Pollution Abatement in Region V

Howell Refinery processes only sweet crude at the rate of 2500 barrels per day. A stripper is used to strip light crude of butadiene, kerosene, diesel, gasoline and distillate. There are no toxic chemicals present in the waste which has a 100 per cent 48-hour TLm at all stations. The waste flows from a gravity type separator into a shallow five acre retention pond filled with cattails. The sandy flats and cattails (Typha sp.) filter 95 per cent of the oil found in the waste prior to disposal into the harbor.