Refinery fined for violations of air quality

Tesoro Corp., one of the biggest oil refining companies on the planet, has agreed to pay a nearly half-million-dollar fine to settle 35 separate claims for air-quality violations at its refinery in Martinez between 2009 and 2011.

The violations included “significant visible emissions” in 2010 after two power failures at the Golden Eagle Refinery. The events triggered alarms by the Contra Costa County Community Warning System warning nearby residents to stay in their homes until the air was cleared.

Several of the refinery’s boilers were also found to be emitting excess carbon monoxide and ammonia, and ground monitors showed too much hydrogen sulfide coming out of the plant.

The company was also found to have not used “proper precautionary measures” to handle hazardous materials stored in a tank that lit on fire.

The civil penalty of $472,000, announced Wednesday, was assessed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The company said it admitted no liability in the settlement.

“This settlement will ensure Tesoro takes responsibility for all systems within its refining process to ensure they do not jeopardize air quality, and comply with air district regulations,” district Executive Director Jack Broadbent said in a statement. The district typically issues 20 to 25 violations a year to each of the Bay Area’s five refineries, said district spokesman Ralph Borrmann.

Tesoro is based in San Antonio and places in the Fortune 100 company list with revenue of $33 billion a year.

The company and the district both said the refinery has made significant improvements in its systems to prevent further emissions.

In 2011, the company was fined $500,000 for more than 40 air-quality violations between 2006 and 2009 at the Golden Eagle refinery.