Phillips 66, an oil company based in Texas, has been indicted for Clean Water Act violations in California for discharging industrial wastewater with excessive oil and grease into the sewer system.
The big picture: Allegations suggest that the company did not report the violations related to the discharge of wastewater from its Carson oil refinery in 2020 and 2021.
- Charges include two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act, with potential consequences of up to five years of probation and fines up to $2.4 million per count.
State of play: Phillips 66 plans to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s office and present its case in court while emphasizing its commitment to safety and protecting employees and communities.
- In a separate move, Phillips announced the closure of its Southern California refinery by 2025, citing market concerns. This refinery makes up about 8% of California’s refining capacity.
- The company still operates a refinery near San Francisco, which accounts for approximately 5% of California’s refining capacity, according to the state’s Energy Commission.
