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Tesoro Corp. Settles Air Pollution Case with EPA and DOJ
In a major crackdown on air pollution, Tesoro Corp. has agreed to pay a $10.45 million civil penalty to settle Clean Air Act violations at six refineries across the Western United States.
The settlement, announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Justice Department, requires Tesoro to spend approximately $403 million to install and operate pollution control equipment at its refineries in Kenai, Alaska; Martinez, California; Kapolei, Hawaii; Mandan, North Dakota; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Anacortes, Washington.
As part of the settlement, Tesoro will also spend about $12 million to fund environmental projects in local communities previously impacted by pollution.
The alleged Clean Air Act violations at the refineries included leak detection and repair and flaring violations, as well as violations of the Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration, Non-Attainment New Source Review, New Source Performance Standards, and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
The settlement addresses a range of alleged Clean Air Act violations at the six refineries, including leak detection and repair and flaring violations, as well as violations of state clean air laws, programs, and permits.
With the settlement, Tesoro will reduce annual emissions at the six refineries by an estimated 773 tons of sulfur dioxide, 407 tons of nitrogen oxides, 1,140 tons of volatile organic compounds, 27 tons of hazardous air pollutants, 20 tons of hydrogen sulfide, and the equivalent of 47,034 tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
The settlement was lodged in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and is subject to court approval.
Tesoro Corp. is a subsidiary of Andeavor, which was acquired by Marathon Petroleum in 2018.
According to the EPA, refineries process crude oil into products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, jet fuel, asphalt, and liquefied petroleum gas, and emit pollutants from a number of different sources.
At the refineries subject to this settlement, fluid catalytic cracking units, sulfuric acid plants, heaters, boilers, and sulfur recovery units are substantial emitters of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
Flaring results in emissions of sulfur dioxide, greenhouse gases, and toxic air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants.
Leaks, flares, and excess emissions from refineries can result in numerous health effects, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system.
The settlement is a major victory for the EPA and the Justice Department in their efforts to protect public health and the environment.
Key Facts
- State: Alaska
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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