Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, May 9 -- San Francisco's Bay Area Air Quality Management District (AQMD) announced that Tesoro Refining & Marketing Co., San Antonio, has agreed to pay a $1.5 million civil penalty to settle air-quality violations at its 166,000 b/d Golden Eagle refinery at Martinez, Calif.

"The Air District takes necessary enforcement action to ensure that facilities do not endanger the health of their neighbors," said AQMD Executive Officer Jack Broadbent. "We will continue to ensure that Tesoro's operations meet legally required air quality standards."

"The Air District seeks penalties commensurate with the degree of noncompliance, in order to send a message that these violations will not be tolerated," added District Counsel Brian C. Bunger. "This $1.5 million penalty does just that."

According to AQMD, the settlement covers violations which occurred over 3 years, including "failure to inspect tanks and equipment, air pollution releases that resulted from equipment malfunctions, and administrative and reporting violations."