The Bay Area Air District (BAAD) has fined subsidiaries of Kinder Morgan, Inc. $226,990 for air quality violations at fuel terminals in Richmond and San Jose. According to a news release from April 23, the fine addresses eight violations issued to the company in 2022 and 2023.
Fuel terminals are large storage and distribution facilities where fuel is stored in tanks before it is shipped to gas stations or other sites.
Regulations are in place to reduce harmful emissions, including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter or sulfur dioxide, which can cause public health issues or lead to environmental degradation.
The regulations also help ensure that businesses comply with federal, state and local air quality standards.
BAAD reports that issues at the San Jose terminal included a 10-gallon gasoline spill and two vapor leaks.
At the Richmond terminal, violations included gaps in tank roofs exceeding fuel storage limits and viewports that were smaller than allowed by regulation.
BAAD reports that all violations have been corrected.
According to the agency, when a notice of violation is issued, violators must correct the problem and then pay monetary penalties depending on the seriousness of the violation.
A portion of the money collected from Kinder Morgan will be used in the community impacted by the violation. In this case, that’s San Jose and Richmond. The funds will be used to support local projects aimed a reducing pollution and improving public health.
Kinder Morgan is one of the largest midstream energy firms in North America. It is a publicly traded company trading under the letters KMI. It operates pipelines and fuel terminals across North America.
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