BP and Shell penalized $1.5 million
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
reached settlements on September 27 with BP Products and Shell,
and two Shell subsidiaries Motiva and Equilon Enterprises LLC.
The companies produced and distributed gasoline
that failed to meet the regulatory requirements. Use of noncomplying
fuel in motor vehicles can cause an increase in emissions that can
harm public health.
The settlements resolve alleged violations of
various fuel standards that occurred from 1999 through 2004 at retail
outlets, terminals and refineries located throughout the United
States. A number of the violations involve the summertime gasoline
standard for volatility, or tendency to evaporate, which is intended
to reduce smog-causing hydrocarbon emissions. Some of the violations
were self-reported by BP and Shell, while others were discovered
through EPA’s inspection and compliance programs.
BP agreed to pay a civil penalty of $900,000 and
Shell agreed to pay a civil penalty of $600,000. BP and Shell will
also perform extensive remedial efforts — including quality
assurance programs and technical changes in processes and equipment
— to correct the alleged violations and to prevent the recurrence
of similar violations. |
