NEW YORK -- Phillips Corp. and Equilon Enterprises have agreed to pay a combined $55,000 in fines to settle two separate air-quality violations related to motor fuel sold in California, state officials said.
California officials said in a statement late Monday that both companies sold gasoline that exceeded legal guidelines for Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), according to a Reuters report yesterday.
"Evaporative standards are a means to minimize the fumes from gasoline, and therefore reduce pollution. When gasoline that doesn't meet these standards is used, it damages the health and economy of all Californians," said Michael Kenny, executive officer of the California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board's (CARB).
CARB said sampling of regular and premium gasoline at Equilon's Los Angeles refinery (pictured revealed higher-than-legal RVP limits, caused by modifications to the vapor recovery system.
Equilon will pay a $30,000 fine, refinery spokeswoman Cecilia Moreno told Reuters, adding that the company agreed with CARB's evaluation of its vapor recovery system as the cause of the off-spec gasoline.
In the other violation, Tosco Corp., which was acquired last year by Phillips, sold premium gasoline from a tank at its Richmond terminal. The illegal RVP reading was attributed to the damage and subsequent repair to the tank after an earthquake. The company was fined $25,000.
