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3/7/2025
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@watertoday.ca
March 7, 2025 1212 pm PST
CrimeBox
Safe Drinking Water Act Crimes Historic Conviction: Fiscal Year 2007; Case ID# CR_1275(California)
Oil company denies injecting benzene contaminated wastewater underground, fined 1 million for fouling groundwater
One of 2 Safe Drinking Water Act Criminal Prosecutions in the State of California
The defendant in this case is an energy company operating in the State of California. Federal District Court in California found the defendant had deliberately and illegally disposed of oil and gas refinery waste products containing benzene, a hazardous material known to cause cancer. These actions put an important drinking water source at risk of contamination.
During the investigation, the defendant made false statements to the US EPA, denying the disposal of toxic wastewater in an underground injection well. From April 2004, officials at the defendant's parent corporation were also under investigation for routinely dumping oil refinery waste into an injection well intended for brine, a waste product generated during the refining of crude oil.
According to the National Cancer Institute, benzene "is a natural component of crude oil, which is the main source of benzene produced today. Exposure to benzene increases the risk of developing leukemia and other blood disorders."
The defendant was found guilty of criminal violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, sentenced to one million dollar fine, restitution, special assessment fee and three years probation.
Federal Fine: $1,000,000 ; Restitution: $15,500; Special Assessment Fee: $800; Probation: 36 months
See last week's CrimeBox here, "Fraud AND illegal dumping - wastewater hauler dumps clients' toxics into US waters in southern California"
CWA CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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