Tesoro To Pay $260K For Air Quality Violations in Martinez

Tesoro has been ordered to pay $260,000 in fines for air quality violations at its Martinez refinery, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced today.

The oil company reached an agreement with the air district over 23 air quality violations at the refinery in 2011, district officials said.

The violations included excessive nitrogen oxide emissions, sulfur dioxide emissions, tank leak violations, reporting and monitoring violations and an “overwhelming flare system” in May 2011 that caused odors and prompted numerous complaints from surrounding residents, according to air district officials.

Tesoro disclosed some of the violations on its own, according to the air district. Revenue from the settlement will fund air district activities including future refinery inspections and enforcement work.

“Refineries have an obligation to their neighbors to ensure they operate within the strict limits of their air quality permits,” air district executive officer Jack Broadbent said in a statement.

“These are large industrial facilities located in urban areas and therefore missteps in their operations will not be tolerated,” he said.

--Bay City News