Phillips 66 Charged for Alleged Pollution of LA Sewer System

Phillips 66, a prominent oil and gas corporation, is currently facing federal charges over allegations of discharging approximately 790,000 gallons of polluted wastewater into the Los Angeles County sewer system. These charges, brought forth by a federal grand jury, include two counts of negligent violations and four counts of knowing violations of the Clean Water Act, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

Source: KCAL News/YouTube

The indictments relate to two separate incidents at the company’s Carson facility, occurring within three months. Prosecutors claim that in November 2020, Phillips 66 discharged about 310,000 gallons of industrial wastewater into the sewers, which contained about 64,000 pounds of oil and grease—exceeding permitted levels by more than 300 times. Another spill in February 2021 saw an additional 480,000 gallons of wastewater with at least 33,700 pounds of oil and grease being illegally dumped.

Following these incidents, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts issued multiple notices of violation to Phillips 66 for these unauthorized discharges and for failing to notify the proper authorities in a timely manner. A manager at Phillips 66 later acknowledged the spills and indicated that the company would retrain its operations personnel on proper spill management and notification procedures.

In response to the criminal charges, Phillips 66 has stated its intent to cooperate fully with the U.S. Attorney’s office and to defend its actions in court. The company has also recently announced the closure of its Carson facility along with another refinery in Wilmington, citing market dynamics and sustainability concerns.

If convicted on all counts, Phillips 66 could face significant penalties, including up to $2.4 million in fines and five years of probation per count. The company’s arraignment is scheduled to occur in the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles, though a specific court date has yet to be announced by the local U.S. Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues its investigation into these environmental violations.

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