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Phillips 66 faces federal charges after Carson refinery allegedly dumped wastewater into LA sewer system
A jogger runs in front of the Phillips 66 refinery the Wilmington area of Los Angeles in 2014.
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Mark J. Terrill
/
AP
)
Oil and gas company Phillips 66 has been charged with allegedly dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater into L.A.'s sewer system.
A grand jury handed down a six-count indictment Wednesday, alleging the company's Carson refinery twice released non-compliant wastewater into the sewers and then failed to alert L.A. County officials, violating the Clean Water Act.
According to the indictment, the incidents occurred in 2020 and again in 2021. The first time, the wastewater allegedly contained more than 300 times the allowed concentration of oil and grease.
“Protecting our environment is key to protecting our community,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “Just like the rest of us, corporations have a duty to follow the law, so when companies contaminate, they must be held accountable."
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The utility company denies the allegation, saying it’s too soon to enter into mediation when investigations into the cause of the Eaton Fire are not yet complete. -
As much as 8 inches of rain could fall on some areas of Southern California, raising the risk of debris flows. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called for a full investigation in October, following Los Angeles Times reporting that found firefighters were told to leave Lachman Fire burn site before it was out.
The Justice Department said in a statement that Phillips 66 will be arraigned in downtown L.A. in the coming weeks.
"Phillips 66 will continue its cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s office and is prepared to present its case in these matters in court," a company spokesperson said in a statement. "The company remains committed to operating safely and protecting the health and safety of our employees and the communities where we operate."
The legal action comes less than a month after Phillips 66 announced it would close its oil refineries in Carson and Wilmington by the end of the year. Those two refineries supply about 8% of California's gasoline.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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