Chevron to pay $146K for pollution violations during Richmond flaring

RICHMOND, Calif. -- Chevron has agreed to pay $146,000 for air pollution violations during flaring from 2012 to 2014, Bay Area Air Quality Management District officials said Tuesday.

The settlement with the air district is for 22 violations including discharge of hydrogen sulfide and other pollutants through flaring, heavy smoke from flaring, failure to take flare samples and excess carbon monoxide from furnace operations.

The settlement was reached on July 16, according to Chevron. Air district said Tuesday that the violations have since been corrected.

"This settlement will help ensure this facility, as well as others, follow the rules and reduce their overall emissions," air district executive director Jack Broadbent said in a statement.

Chevron officials said in a statement, "Even though the incidents were minor and did not result in any significant impacts to people or the environment, we take these matters seriously and have taken preventative measures to avoid similar situations from occurring in the future."

In 2013, Chevron paid $190,000 for similar violations recorded between 2010 and 2012. Those violations were all recorded prior to a massive fire in August 2012 that sent thousands of people to area hospitals complaining of respiratory problems.