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MOBIL OIL CORPORATION WILL PAY $1.5 MILLION SETTLEMENT

Release Date: 9/29/2000
Contact Information: Wendy L. Chavez, U.S.EPA, (415) 744-1588

     Fines will Fund Water Recycling and Emergency Response

     SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a settlement with Mobil Oil for violations of the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Emergency Preparedness and Community Right to Know Act, and Superfund Law at its Torrance, Calif. refinery.  Mobil has agreed to spend $1 million on environmental projects to offset impacts of the violations and pay a $500,000 penalty.

     "We are pleased to have settled this matter with Mobil," said Alexis Strauss, director of the EPA's pacific southwest water division. "The purchase of additional emergency response equipment for the fire department and the improvements Mobil will make at the Torrance refinery will be of benefit to the community."

     Mobil will spend $200,000 to purchase emergency response equipment for the Torrance Fire Department.  The petroleum company will also spend $800,000 to study and implement water recycling at its southland facility.  Recycling will reduce the volume of wastewater released from the refinery and conserve water in our nation's thirstiest metropolitan region.

     Mobil will also have to take steps to maintain consistent compliance.  The settlement agreement includes requirements for the company to reduce air pollutant emissions, reduce pollutants in storm water discharges, conduct an effluent risk assessment and comply with community right to know requirements.

     The refining corporation violated the Clean Water Act by exceeding permitted effluent limits on storm water discharge permits and failing to follow proper laboratory procedures when analyzing effluent discharges.  The community right to know and Superfund laws were disregarded when Mobil failed to report releases of hazardous substances.

     The Clean Air Act violations occurred because Mobil did not maintain essential controls on flare units.  Flares burn off gases released during the refining of crude oil to reduce air pollution.  It is critical that they stay lit at all times.  The devices that ensure flares stay lit were not properly maintained, increasing the risk that flares would not be working when needed.