Two gasoline companies will pay $11.5 million to settle a lawsuit with the state of California over allegations that the companies didn't properly maintaining underground gasoline storage tanks, said California Attorney General Kamala Harris on Thursday.
Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips were accused of violating state laws by failing to comply with hazardous waste and materials laws at more than 560 gasoline stations the companies owned around California.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Thursday that her office had reached an $11.5 million settlement with Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips over allegations the companies didn't maintain underground storage tanks properly.
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“Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips failed to adequately monitor hazardous materials in large gasoline holding tanks, which endangered nearby water supplies," Harris said. "This settlement holds Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips accountable for this dangerous negligence and will ensure future compliance with environmental laws.”
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley joined Harris' office in bringing the charges against the gas companies, and said her office continues to be committed to protecting the public and the environment from hazardous waste and materials.
“When corporations place our valuable water resources in jeopardy by failing to comply with environmental laws and regulations, they must be held accountable,” O'Malley said. “The settlement today achieves this important goal.”
The lawsuit was filed in January 2013 and claimed the companies violated ant-pollution laws since 2006. It also alleged the storage tanks didn't have proper leak detection devices, and the companies didn't test secondary containment systems.