Tesoro to pay $1.1 million for violating pollution laws

KENAI, Alaska — Tesoro has agreed to pay a $1.1 million penalty to resolve violations of federal air pollution laws.

The Environmental Protection Agency reached the agreement with Tesoro over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at four refining facilities that produce gasoline, including one in Kenai.

The EPA accused Tesoro of failing to comply with record-keeping, reporting, sampling and testing requirements under the agency’s fuel program. It said the violations also occurred at facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah; Mandan, N.D., and Anacortes.

EPA says the fuel program requirements are in place to ensure that gasoline complies with fuel quality and performance standards.

Tesoro is being required to implement a plan to prevent future violations.

Tesoro and Savage Companies have launched a joint venture to build and operate facilities to store, load and unload crude oil from North Dakota at the Port of Vancouver for shipping to West Coast refineries. The plan requires approval from the Port of Vancouver Board of Commssioners, which is now reviewing the proposal.