$8.95-Million Texaco Waste Cleanup OKd

The state attorney general’s office Tuesday announced an $8.95-million settlement with a Texaco Inc. subsidiary accused of neglecting to clean up thousands of corroded and leaking steel drums containing hazardous waste at a Bakersfield refinery.

Calling it a “strong message to companies that handle, store, generate or transport hazardous waste,” state Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp said at a press conference in Sacramento that the settlement is the largest ever under California’s Hazardous Waste Control Act.

“In agreeing to this settlement, Texaco does not admit to the allegations against it,” Van de Kamp said. “It has, though, agreed to pay (the state) half a million dollars to cover the costs of the investigation (and) $4.5 million in civil penalties” In addition, Texaco will spend $3.95 million at the Bakersfield refinery for environmental enhancements.

In a prepared statement, state Health Services Director Kenneth W. Kizer also lauded the settlement of the lawsuit initiated by his office against Texaco Refining & Marketing Inc.

“State Department of Health Services and the attorney general’s office have worked long and hard to reach this consent agreement,” Kizer said. “It is an important settlement because it ensures that all improper storage at the facility will cease.”

The case involved about 5,000 55-gallon drums of hazardous materials first discovered by state health officials during an inspection of the refinery conducted shortly after Texaco purchased the facility from another company, Tosco, in late 1986, state health officials said.

“Those drums were found to contain cancer-causing metals and other compounds, which require special handling,” Van de Kamp said. “We do not know whether any of the wastes found their way into the water supply.”

Tomi Van de Brooke, a spokeswoman for Texaco, said in a telephone interview that the drums did not present an environmental hazard and mostly contained “refining catalyst,” which she described as a material used in the oil-refining process to increase the quality and value of the end product.

Van de Brooke confirmed details of the settlement and emphasized that the firm has not accepted responsibility for the alleged violations.

“We did not agree with all the allegations, but rather than go through a long drawn out litigation process we chose to go through the settlement,” Van de Brooke said.

As it stands, Van de Brooke said, “All but about 348 barrels have been removed from the refinery, and we are in the process of removing the remaining barrels through the proper channels.”