Mobil Fined $29,411 for Late Installation of Emissions Unit
Mobil Oil Corp. has agreed to pay $29,411 to settle a complaint filed by the Environmental Protection Agency for the company’s late installation of an emissions monitoring system at its Torrance refinery.
The fine was announced Thursday in conjunction with a $48,000 fine levied against Ultramar Inc. of Long Beach, which was cited for failing to submit semiannual emissions reports. The EPA also filed a complaint on Thursday against Powerine Oil Co. of Santa Fe Springs for missing 1992 deadlines for submitting the same emissions reports. The Powerine citation seeks $50,000 in penalties.
In Mobil’s case, Clean Air Act regulations required installation of a continuous emissions monitoring system by Oct. 2, 1991, EPA spokesman Bill Glenn said. Mobil did not install the monitoring system until late January, 1992, he said.
Mobil spokesman Barry Engelberg said the oil company notified the EPA in September, 1991, that the system’s manufacturer would not supply the equipment in time. As soon as the system arrived, Mobil installed it, he said, adding that the refinery’s emissions never exceeded legal limits.
The system measures the refinery’s release of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, gases that can be dangerous in high concentrations.
Sulfur dioxide, which is targeted by the Clean Air Act for a 50% reduction by the year 2000, is the primary cause of acid rain.
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