(March 18, 2005) -- In a record-setting resolution, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has settled two lawsuits brought against BP West Coast Products, LLC -- operator of the BP Carson refinery -- with the company agreeing to pay $25 million in cash penalties, $6 million in past emissions fees...and $30 million over ten years for community programs to address asthma diagnosis and treatment.
AQMD filed an initial court complaint against BP in March 2003, followed by a second complaint January 2005. Combined, the two lawsuits sought more than $597 million.
The settlement resolves all issues in the two actions, including allegations of inadequate inspection and maintenance of large above-ground storage tanks, failure to adequately perform flare data collection, inconsistencies in refinery record-keeping, and numerous air emission releases into the surrounding community from the refinery during recent years.
The company admits no wrongdoing as part of the settlement.