U.S. rule to cut toxic emissions at refineries

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - U.S. oil refineries will face tighter standards in coming years on toxic emissions that cause lung problems and increase cancer risks, environmental regulators said on Tuesday.

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule, to be fully implemented in 2018, that aims to reduce emissions of benzene and other toxic emissions.

The EPA said the capital cost to refiners will be about $283 million, with an annualized cost of $63 million, but that the standards will have a "negligible impact on the costs of petroleum products," like gasoline and diesel fuel.

Gina McCarthy, the EPA administrator, said the pollution cuts will lower the cancer risk from refineries for more than 1.4 million people and are a "substantial step forward in EPA's work to protect the health of vulnerable communities located near these facilities." (by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Reuters)

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