Texas Oil Company Hit With Federal Charges For Illegally Dumping Wastewater Into L.A. Sewers

On November 22, 2024By Pranco

A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against Houston-based energy company Phillips 66 Company for violating the Clean Water Act after the company allegedly discharged “hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater” from its Carson oil refinery in the Los Angeles area had discharged. The Angeles County Sewer System subsequently failed to report the violations to authorities, the Department of Justice announced today.

Phillips is charged with two counts of negligent violation of the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. The company is expected to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks, prosecutors say.

“Protecting our environment is key to protecting our community,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Like us, companies have a duty to follow the law, so if companies become infected they must be held accountable. My office will remain vigilant in protecting our natural resources so that they can be enjoyed by all.”

The violation, prosecutors say, was a dangerous spill that occurred over nearly three hours in the early morning hours of Nov. 24, 2020, dumping 310,000 gallons of oil and grease that was “more than 300 times the concentration.” permitted by permit to discharge into LA County sewers. The company then covered up the spill by failing to notify county officials of the noncompliance, prosecutors say.

Months later, the company had another pollution event on the evening of February 2, 2021, during which, over approximately five and a half hours, the Carson plant dumped approximately 480,000 gallons of non-compliant industrial wastewater, which released at least 33,700 pounds of oil and grease into the sewer system of LACSD.

“The illegal discharge of pollutants into the sewer system violates the Clean Water Act,” said Special Agent in Charge Kim Bahney of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division. “Today’s charges illustrate EPA’s commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring accountability for those who neglect or fail to comply with our nation’s environmental laws.”