EPA v. TOSCO CORPORATION

Case summary

THE TOSCO REFINERY IN AVON, CALIFORNIA PROCESSES CRUDE OIL FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GASOLINE. IT DISCHARGES ITS EFFLUENT INTO SAN FRANCISCO BAY UNDER A STATE ISSUED NPDES PERMIT. THE REFINERY HAS A HISTORY OF PERMIT VIOLATIONS OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS. THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 VIOLATIONS OF DAILY MAXIMUM EFFLUENT LIMITS AND 30 VIOLATIONS OF KNOWN MONTHLY AVERAGE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS. DEFENDANT WILL NEED TO CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL TREATMENT CAPACITY IN ORDER TO COME INTO CONSISTANT COMPLIANCE WITH ITS PERMIT. PENALTIES WILL BE SOUGHT FOR THE NPDES PERMIT VIOLATIONS USING THE AGENCY'S PENALTY POLICY. THE STATE WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD, SAN FRANCISCO REGION, HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN JOINING THIS CIVIL ACTION.

Defendants (1)

• TOSCO CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (9)

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

• ULTRAMAR INCORPORATED

  150 SOLANO AVENUE, MARTINEZ, CA, 94553

  Registry ID: 110071349304

Statutes cited

• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• TOSCO CORPORATIONentered 1986-04-15

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $500,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1984-06-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1984-06-28Referred To Headquarters
• 1984-07-18Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1984-09-26Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1984-09-27Complaint Filed With Court
• 1986-04-15Final Order Lodged
• 1986-04-15Final Order Entered
• 1986-04-15Concluded
• 1987-01-05Enforcement Action Closed