Valero Refining - New Orleans LLC - St Charles Refinery, Norco, Louisiana | Oil Refinery

Valero Refining - New Orleans LLC - St Charles Refinery is a major oil refinery located in Norco, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. Situated along the Mississippi River, this facility is part of Valero Energy Corporation's extensive refining network and plays a key role in the region's petroleum infrastructure. The refinery operates under the regulatory oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). It is subject to the Clean Air Act Refinery MACT standards and other federal and state environmental regulations. The facility's NAICS code 324110 indicates it is a petroleum refinery, typically involving complex processing units such as distillation, cracking, and reforming. As a significant employer and economic contributor in St. Charles Parish, the refinery supplies gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products to local and national markets. Its location on the Mississippi River provides access to crude oil feedstocks and product distribution via barge and pipeline, underscoring its importance to the regional energy supply chain.

The refinery is situated in the Mississippi River corridor, an area with sensitive aquatic ecosystems and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Operations involve potential risks of spills, air emissions, and water discharges, regulated under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. The facility's coastal siting increases spill risk, requiring robust containment and response measures.