Refinery Hit With $10 Million Penalty Over Violations: Watch

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A refining company was ordered to pay $10 million for years of air quality and environmental violations at its Martinez site.

The Feb. 18 judgment ended a case that documented dozens of violations at the Martinez Refining Company facility on Pacheco Boulevard between early 2020 and late 2024. Prosecutors cited illegal flaring, fires, leaking tanks, persistent odors affecting downtown neighborhoods, and the release of refinery byproducts beyond the facility’s fence line.

The enforcement action stems from 163 notices of violation issued by air regulators over four years, including the refinery’s 2022 Thanksgiving Day incident that blanketed parts of Martinez in a white ash-like substance from spent catalyst emissions, according to a joint statement from the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Officials said the settlement is intended to hold the company accountable while requiring operational changes and funding projects to improve air quality in nearby communities. District Attorney Diana Becton said the case reflects ongoing concerns about public health impacts tied to refinery operations. “The residents of Martinez deserve to feel safe in their communities,” Becton said in a statement. “This civil action holds the Martinez Refining Company accountable for numerous violations and reinforces our office’s dedication to protecting public health and safety.”

Under the settlement, $6.35 million will go to the Air District for community air-quality projects, $3.5 million to the District Attorney’s environmental enforcement unit, $100,000 to Contra Costa Health Services, and $50,000 to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In addition, the company will pay $600,000 for supplemental environmental mitigation, including $450,000 for air filtration systems at public schools near the refinery, $100,000 for environmental regulator scholarships, and $50,000 for fish and wildlife enhancement programs.

The judgment also requires the refinery to modify operations at its catalytic cracking unit to ensure emissions controls remain active during startup and shutdown and to install enhanced monitoring equipment across multiple systems.

Air District General Counsel Alexander Crockett said the enforcement action underscores the importance of compliance. “Strong enforcement ensures accountability while directing resources back to the communities most affected by pollution,” he said.

Officials noted the case does not include the Feb. 1, 2025, refinery fire, which remains under separate investigation by air regulators.