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Tesoro to pay fine
of $681,720 for 1995
sulfur dioxide release

It also owes the city $50,000 in
emergency response equipment

Star-Bulletin staff

Tesoro Hawaii will pay a $681,720 penalty to settle violations at its Campbell Industrial Park oil refinery in 1995 where the release of sulfur dioxide sickened dozens of people.

At that time the refinery was owned and operated by BHP Petroleum Americas Refining Inc.

In addition to the fines, Tesoro is required to modify its sulfur recovery unit to avoid unplanned shutdowns and prevent excess sulfur dioxide air emissions, and increase the capacity and effectiveness of its secondary containment areas to prevent oils spills from reaching the ocean.

Tesoro also must give the city $50,000 worth of equipment to support emergency responses to hazardous-material incidents.

In a complaint filed by the Environmental Protection Agency, Tesoro was charged with failing to follow good air pollution practices, burning fuel gas that contained excess hydrogen sulfide, failing to comply with leak detection and repair requirements to prevent volatile organic compound emissions, and failing to comply with work practice and reporting requirements.