Huntway Partners to Close Arizona Subsidiary

Huntway Partners L.P., a Valencia-based maker of liquid asphalt, said it will indefinitely idle operations at its Sunbelt Refining subsidiary in Arizona, because of poor margins and an environmental lawsuit that accused the company of pollution violations.

Huntway said it will take a $6.6-million charge in the second quarter to close its Sunbelt facility and will lay off 43 workers. Sunbelt will cease operations by Aug. 1, and will not resume until market conditions improve, Huntway said.

Sunbelt is the second largest of Huntway’s three refinery operations, but the financially ailing company said Sunbelt has been hurt by low asphalt prices in Arizona. Sunbelt is also battling with the state of Arizona, which has asked Huntway to pay $1.3 million in fines and damages because of alleged water pollution near the refinery.