All News Releases By Date

Tesoro to pay $1.1 million to resolve Clean Air Act violations

Release Date: 05/30/2013
Contact Information: Dale Kemery (News media only) [email protected] 202-564-7839 202-564-4355

(Washington – May 30, 2013) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Tesoro Corporation, Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company LLC, and Tesoro Alaska Company have agreed to pay a $1.1 million penalty to resolve claims that Tesoro failed to comply with requirements under the Clean Air Act at four of its refining facilities that produce conventional gasoline.

In its complaint, EPA alleged that Tesoro failed to comply with recordkeeping, reporting, sampling, and testing requirements at its facilities in Anacortes, Washington; Kenai, Alaska; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Mandan, North Dakota.

"EPA’s fuel regulations are vital safeguards that protect our nation’s air quality,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "By taking action against violations of these regulations, EPA is not only protecting people’s health, but is also ensuring a level playing field for refiners that play by the rules.

The settlement requires that Tesoro implement an environmental compliance and auditing plan designed to prevent future violations and ensure compliance with EPA’s fuels regulations. The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

EPA fuel regulations require that all fuel produced, imported and sold in the U.S. meet certain standards. Fuel that does not meet the standards can lead to increased emissions of harmful pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds and cancer-causing air toxics.

The fuel sampling, testing, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements provide the foundation for EPA’s compliance program. Refiners that violate these requirements undermine the integrity of the fuel regulations and hinder EPA’s ability to ensure gasoline complies with fuel quality and performance standards, potentially increasing harmful air pollution.

More information on the settlement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/cases/tesoro.html

Follow EPA Region 10 @EPAnorthwest on Twitter! https://twitter.com/EPAnorthwest