In its complaint, EPA alleged that Tesoro failed to comply with recordkeeping, reporting, sampling, and testing requirements at its facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah; Mandan, N.D.; Anacortes, WA; and Kenai, AK.

"EPA’s fuels regulations are vital safeguards that protect our nation’s air quality,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "By taking action against violations of these regulations, EPA is not only protecting people’s health, but is also ensuring a level playing field for refiners that play by the rules."

The settlement requires that Tesoro implement an environmental compliance and auditing plan which is designed to prevent future violations and ensure compliance with EPA’s fuels regulations.

The EPA’s fuel regulations require that all fuel produced, imported and sold in the United States meet certain standards. Fuel that does not meet the applicable standards could lead to an increase in emissions of harmful pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds and cancer-causing air toxics.

The sampling, testing, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of the fuels program provide the foundation for EPA’s compliance program. Refiners that violate these requirements undermine the integrity of the fuel regulations and hinder the Agency’s ability to ensure gasoline complies with fuel quality and performance standards, potentially leading to an increase in harmful air pollution.

The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

More information about this settlement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/cases/tesoro.html