The EPA mentions the cost to bring coal-fired plants into compliance, but does not mention the much more expensive cost of piping natural gas to a refinery.
The firm blamed the slide largely on lower oil prices - compared with a year before - a 70% slump in North American gas prices and the toughest refinery and product sales markets "since the mid-1980s".
Emergency director Marcogliese asked terminal managers to line up fuel trucks that could be sent to resupply a gas station near the Texas City refinery so workers at least would have fuel to get around.
Renamed Cornerstone Natural Gas, Endevco sold off an oil refinery and some pipeline assets to help pay down debt, and trimmed staff to lower operating costs.