EPA v. UNION OIL COMPANY

Case summary

UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA OWNS AND OPERATES TWO PETROLEUM REFINERIES IN CARSON AND WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA. THE FACILITIES REFINE CRUDE OIL BY VARIOUS PROCESSES INTO PRODUCTS SUCH AS GASOLINE. UNOCAL SUBMITTED AN INITIAL APPLICATION TO SCAQMD FOR PTCS FOR THE RFG PROJECT EQUIPMENT IN MARCH 1993. IN SEPTEMBER 1993, BEFORE UNOCAL RECEIVED A PTC, UNOCAL BEGAN POURING CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE RFG PROJECT EQUIPMENT AT THE FACILITIES. UNOCAL REVIEWED PTCS FOR THE RFG PROJECT EQUIPMENT ON NOVEMBER 3 AND 4, 1993. EPA HAS DETERMINED THAT UNOCAL VIOLATED SCAQMD RULES 201 AND 1303 BY COMMENCING ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION ON THE RFG PROJECT AT THE FACILITIES WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING A PTC FROM SCAQMD. REGION IX WILL ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THIS CASE AGAINST UNOCAL BY PREREFERRAL NEGOTIATIONS AND HAS PROPOSED A BOTTOM LINE CIVIL PENALTY OF $232,400. SINCE NO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF APPEARS NECESSARY, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE A CIVIL PENALTY AND A STIPULATED PENALTY IN THIS CASE.

Defendants (1)

• UNION OIL COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• WILMINGTON REFINERY - CONOCOPHILLIPS (TOSCO)

  1660 W. ANAHEIM STREET, WILMINGTON, CA, 90744

  Registry ID: 110000476235

• TOSCO REFINING COMPANY LOS ANGELES REFINERY CARSON PLANT

  1520 E. SEPULVEDA BLVD., CARSON, CA, 90745

  Registry ID: 110038102969

Statutes cited

• CAA 113 — Clean Air Act
• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNION OIL COMPANYentered 1996-03-28

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $80,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1993-10-25Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1994-03-10PRN Sent
• 1994-09-20Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1996-03-15Complaint Filed With Court
• 1996-03-28Concluded
• 1996-03-28Final Order Lodged
• 1996-03-28Final Order Entered
• 1996-04-16Enforcement Action Closed