washington State Penalizes Two Refineries for Dangerous Waste Management Issues
Washington State’s Department of Ecology has levied penalties against HF Sinclair and Tesoro, operators of large refineries in the state, for deficiencies in managing dangerous waste at their on-site wastewater treatment facilities. Both companies have previously faced penalties for similar issues.
At the HF Sinclair refinery, an overflow of oily process wastewater in September 2023 resulted in the accumulation of dangerous waste sludge within a spill containment area. This containment area, designed for non-hazardous wastewater spills, was not equipped for the long-term storage of dangerous materials. The sludge remained in place for approximately 11 months before being removed and disposed of in nine 20-yard containers.Inspection following the cleanup revealed a tear in the containment area’s single liner, raising concerns about potential environmental contamination due to the prolonged delay in addressing the spill.
Separately,Tesoro (operating the Marathon Anacortes Refinery) was penalized for its handling of a 150,000-gallon neutralization pond used to contain spent sulfuric acid,a byproduct of their refining process. Wastewater in the pond consistently exhibited a pH of 2 or less – comparable to battery acid – classifying it as dangerous waste. Despite inspectors identifying the issue in 2022 and implementing regular testing, the pond’s dangerous acidity persisted.it took Tesoro nine months to adopt an alternative waste management strategy,extending the period of risk associated with a potential liner failure and subsequent release of toxic materials. The company is currently collaborating with the Department of Ecology to remove remaining residue from the pond.
tom Buroker, Director of Ecology’s Northwest Region, emphasized the responsibility of these large industrial facilities. “HF Sinclair and Tesoro are two of the largest industrial facilities in the state, and safely handling millions of gallons of hazardous materials every day is their core business. They have the expertise, the resources, and the responsibility to extend that level of attention to their waste,” he stated.”In both instances, the refineries improperly held large amounts of dangerous waste over an extended period of time, which compounded the risk of serious harm to people and the habitat.”
the Department of Ecology is continuing its inquiry into potential environmental impacts resulting from the improper waste handling practices. Both HF Sinclair and Tesoro have 30 days to either remit payment of the penalties or file an appeal with the state’s Pollution Control Hearings Board.
