Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company has paid the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) a $260,000 civil penalty to settle air quality violations at its Golden Eagle Refinery in Martinez, Ralph Borrmann, BAAQMD public information officer, said Friday.

Borrmann said the settlement is for 23 notices of violation the Air District issued to the refinery for incidents that occurred in 2011.

“All settlement funds will be used to fund Air District activities such as the inspection and enforcement work that led to this settlement,” he said.

“Refineries have an obligation to their neighbors to ensure they operate within the strict limits of their air quality permits,” said Jack Broadbent, BAAQMD executive officer.

“These are large industrial facilities located in urban areas and therefore missteps in their operations will not be tolerated.”

Many of the violations were reported by the refinery itself, Borrmann said.

Among the violations were an overwhelming flare system May 12, 2011 that caused odors that generated multiple complaints from neighbors and an inadequate flaring causal report after a flaring event later in 2011, he said.

In addition, the refinery was cited for excesses in nitrogen oxide emissions, tank leak violations, sulfur dioxide emissions, visible emissions, and other reporting and monitoring violations, Borrmann said.

The Air District issues notices of violation when companies violate air quality regulation or rules; generally, violators are required to respond to the notice within 10 days and submit a description of the actions they will take to correct the problem, Borrmann said.

“All violations have been corrected by the facility in accordance with Air District requirements,” he said.

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