EPA v. WORLD OIL CORP D.B.A. SUNLAND REFINING

Case summary

SUNLAND REFINING CORPORATION OPERATES A OIL REFINING & MARKETING FACILITY NEAR BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA WITHIN KERN COUNTY. KERN COUNTY IS A NONATTAINMENT AREA FOR OZONE AND DID NOT RECEIVE AN EXTENSION OF THE ATTAINMENT DATE. SUNLAND IS A NEVADA CORPORATION WHICH HAS MERGED WITH WORLD OIL CORP ORATION OF CALIFORNIA. SUNLAND'S BAKERSFIELD FACILITY RE- FINES AT LEAST 20,000 BARRELS PER DAY OF LOCALLY PRODUCED HEAVY CRUDE OIL. THEY DISTILL GASOLINE, DIESEL FUEL & HEAT- ING OIL WHICH ARE STORED IN LARGE BINS AND THEN LOADED INTO TRUCKS FOR TRANSPORT TO CONSUMERS. SUNLANDS GASOLINE FACIL- ITY HAS BEEN EMMITTING GASOLINE VAPORS FROM LIQUID AND VAPOR LEAKS IN VIOLATION OF LOCAL AIR QUALITY RULES. RULE 413 OF REGULATION IV, KERN COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT RULES AND REGULATIONS, REGULATES ORGANIC LIQUID LOADING. IT REQUIRES FACILITYS TO TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT LIQUID DRAIN AGE FROM THE LOADING DEVICES AT SUCH FACILITIES.SUNLAND'S LOADING FACILITY LIES UNDER THE MEANING OF RULE 413. THE PLANT WAS INSPECTED ON JUNE 8 & 9TH BY EPA AND KERN COUNTY COUNTY INSPECTORS WHO FOUND GASOLINE LEAKS IN THE GASOLINE LOADING EQUIPMENT OF THE SUNLAND FACILITY. A NOTICE OF VIOLATION DATED JULY 22, 1983 WAS ISSUED TO SUNLAND BY EPA ON JULY 26, 1983. SUNLAND HAS SINCE STARTED AN INSPECTION PROGRAM AND MAINTANENCE OF THE LOADING RACKS BUT SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT INSPECTIONS OF THE FACILITY HAVE DE- TECTED MORE LEAKS. EPA REGION IX THEN ISSUED AN ADMINISTRA- TIVE ORDER ON MARCH 22, 1984 REQUIRING SUNLAND TO COMPLY WITH RULE 413 WITHIN 30 DAYS. ON APRIL 26, 1984 SUNLAND RE SPONDED THAT IT HAD COMPLIED WITH THE REQUEST AND CORRECTED VARIOUS LEAKS. ON JUNE 6TH AND 7TH, 1984 SUNLAND'S FACILITY WAS AGAIN INSPECTED BY EPA AND GASOLINE LEAKS WERE AGAIN DE- TECTED. HAVING FAILED TO FORCE SUNLAND INTO COMPLIANCE WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER, EPA REGION IX HAS DECIDED TO PURSUE A CIVIL ACTION FOR INJUNCTION RELIEF AND PENALTIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 113 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT.

Defendants (1)

• WORLD OIL CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SUNLAND REFINING

  1850 COFFEE RD, BAKERSFIELD, CA, 93302

  Registry ID: 110018948763

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• WORLD OIL COMPANYentered 1985-12-17

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $25,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1984-07-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1984-09-21Referred To Headquarters
• 1984-10-17Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1985-01-09Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1985-01-28Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-12-17Final Order Lodged
• 1985-12-17Final Order Entered
• 1985-12-17Concluded
• 1987-03-10Enforcement Action Closed