EXHIBIT 23.1 To the Board of Directors of Clark Refining & Marketing, Inc.: We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of our report dated February 4, 1997, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Clark Refining & Marketing, Inc. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption "Experts." /s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. St. Louis, Missouri January 16, 1998