SF Baykeeper suing to stop pollution at Port of Benicia

San Francisco Baykeeper is currently suing the Benicia Valero refinery and port operator Amports, alleging repeated violations of the Clean Water Act. Baykeeper’s field science team responded to tips to its pollution hotline, and observed several instances of petroleum coke (petcoke) being discharged directly into the Carquinez Strait portion of the Bay during the loading of cargo ships at the Port of Benicia. Baykeeper’s drone captured footage of the damning evidence, as well as streams of black dust floating into the air.

"Petcoke from Valero’s refinery and the Amports facility may have been polluting San Francisco Bay and the nearby community for years, and now thanks to tips from the public, Baykeeper was able to catch the polluters red handed," said Baykeeper executive director Sejal Choksi-Chugh. "Baykeeper plans to make sure that Valero and Amports clean up their operations, and make sure the polluters stop causing a toxic mess that could hurt people and the Bay."

Baykeeper encourages Benicia residents to report any suspected pollution at the Port of Benicia to its hotline: hotline@baykeeper.org. You can also sign up to get breaking news updates from San Francisco Baykeeper about pollution at the Port of Benicia and throughout the Bay.