Valero Refining Company Fined Record $82 Million For History Of Toxic Releases At Benicia Refinery

CBS Bay Area

November 1, 2024

The Valero Refining Co. has been fined the largest-ever penalty by Bay Area air quality regulators for a history of toxic chemical releases and other violations at its Benicia refinery dating back to 2003.

According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board, Valero is on the hook for nearly $82 million in fines for violations discovered during a 2019 inspection.

The inspection found the company failed to report toxic emissions from the facility's hydrogen system, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene -- compounds that "cause cancer, reproductive harm and other toxic health effects," according to the air district.

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