The Bay Area Air District fined the Marathon Martinez Refinery nearly $375,000 for violations incurred, the agency said.
The refinery, a subsidiary of Tesoro Refining, was fined $372,500 for 13 violations including tank-related violations, reporting delays and uncertified pieces of equipment at its on-site gas dispensing facility, the air district said.
All violations have been corrected.
“By addressing these violations, Marathon Martinez Refinery will minimize excess emissions in the future,” said the air district on Thursday. “This penalty also incentivizes Marathon Martinez Refinery to increase attention to inspection and maintenance at their facility in unincorporated Contra Costa County, near Martinez.”
In August, the facility agreed to implement a new fenceline monitoring system to detect hydrogen sulfide and other pollutants at six points along its perimeter. The company also agreed to pay a $75,000 fine. A three-day fire at the refinery in February was found to have included chemicals that can cause cancer, heart and lung disease, Contra Costa Health reported.
A portion of the money collected from the refinery will be used in the community to reduce pollution, according to the air district.
Next refiner to quit California ? ? ?
If they manage to drive all the refineries out… it will take centuries for that area along the bay to be inhabitable. Worse ground pollution than any military base or even a Nuke plant. In building America the future was not a consideration. The coasts and bays? We sacrificed our most beautiful lands and waterways for ship-building, refining and trade convenience.
“A portion of the money collected from the refinery will be used in the community to reduce pollution, according to the air district.” 🙂 😉 🙂 …. as if air pollution stays in the community.
So they’re determined to drive up our fuel costs….. there should be some kind of investigative reporting as to what kind of connection(s) BAAD has with big oil… ridiculous
That refinery is 80% permanently shut down, they only process cooking oils into ships fuel. That place done emit enough pollutants of any kind to even raise an eyebrow. Fines my butt, they shouldn’t have been fined in the first place.