Martinez oil refinery fined for air-quality violations

Oil giant Tesoro Corp. has yet again agreed to pay fines to settle air quality violations — this time forking over more than a half-million dollars for three dozen 2012 infractions at its refinery in Martinez, regulators announced Thursday.

“The Air District works to ensure that facilities like Tesoro are held strictly accountable for following all federal, state and local rules which limit air pollution,” Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District, said in a statement.

When we find infractions, we investigate and cite the facility including significant financial penalties, to ensure the facility quickly comes back into compliance with rules safeguarding public health.

In August, Tesoro paid $4 million to settle a lawsuit after district officials claimed “unlawful and dangerous” emissions of butane and hydrocarbon were recorded at the same Martinez refinery from 2007 to 2014.