(This is not an image of General Petroleum's facility, but of general trash and debris accumulation in the harbor near the mouth of the Los Angeles River.)
A petroleum refueling facility in the Port of L.A. has been fined $74,473 for dumping toxins into storm drains between 2004 and 2007. General Petroleum - which distributes primarily for Chevron and Texaco - was found in violation of the federal Clean Water Act as well as state laws designed to protect marine environments from petroleum waste.
Polluted runoff from facilities like General Petroleum is a major cause of water pollution in and around the harbor that includes metals, oil and grease, acidic wastewater, bacteria, trash, and other toxic pollutants.
According to the EPA, General's violations were uncovered in an audit of storm water prevention efforts at the ports. Other companies have been fined for similar violations, though the scope of General's discharge made it among the worst offenders.
Surprisingly, General's main offense wasn't so much that it was illegally dumping tons of toxic waste into storm drains, but that it hadn't obtained the proper permits to do so - permits which concievably can control runoff.
To learn more about General's transgressions, visit www.epa.gov/region09/enforcement/pubnotices/pubnotice-gen-petrol.html.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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