Hanapin

The Air District is announcing the launch of its Commercial Electric Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange Program, a pilot grant program designed to reduce air pollution by replacing gasoline and diesel-powered landscaping equipment with cleaner, zero-emission electric alternatives.

The Air District announced today that Chevron USA Inc. has agreed to pay $147,000 to settle violations at its refinery in Richmond. This settlement covers 29 Notices of Violation issued for air quality violations at the Richmond oil refinery during 2016 – 2018.

The Air District has settled with Valero Oil Co. - California for $196,000 in civil penalties for air quality violations at its refinery in Benicia. The settlement covers 23 notices of violation that the Air District issued for incidents that occurred in 2012.

The Air District is announcing that Bimbo Bakeries, USA Inc., has agreed to pay $162,000 to settle air quality violations that occurred at its facility in South San Francisco. The penalty resolves two notices of violation issued to Bimbo Bakeries, USA Inc. 

The Air District is issuing its first Spare the Air Alert of the year for ozone for Friday, May 30. Air quality is forecast to be unhealthy. High inland temperatures, along with motor vehicle exhaust, will create elevated concentrations of ozone, or smog.

A joint prosecution by the Contra Costa District Attorney and Bay Area Air District has resulted in a $10 million penalty against Martinez Refining Company, along with compliance improvements at its Martinez refinery, and $600,000 in mitigation payments for supplemental environmental projects.

The Air District announced that Chevron USA Inc. has agreed to pay $170,000 to settle air quality violations at its refinery in Richmond. The settlement covers 25 Notices of Violation issued for air quality violations at the Richmond Oil Refinery during 2014 and 2015. 

The Air District announced a recent settlement with Shell Oil Products U.S. to pay a $208,000 civil penalty for air quality violations at its refinery in Martinez. The settlement covers 12 notices of violation that the Air District issued for incidents that occurred in 2013.

Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine announced today the beginning of construction of the Water-Go-Round, a first-of-its-kind hydrogen fuel-cell boat. Funding for the project comes from a $3 million grant to the Air District from the California Air Resources Board.

The Air District and its partners in an initiative to cut air pollution and protect whales today announced results from the 2017 program, which for the first time included speed reduction zones in the San Francisco Bay Area in addition to the Santa Barbara Channel region. 

The Air District and the California Air Resources Board are announcing a nearly $82 million penalty in a joint case to address significant air pollution violations by Valero Refining Co. at its Benicia refinery. This penalty is the largest ever assessed in the Air District’s history.

The Air District’s Board of Directors today adopted amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 5: Particulate Emissions from Refinery Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units to further reduce particulate matter emissions from petroleum refineries. The rule is now the most health-protective and stringent regulation of its kind in the country.

On December 28, the Air District announced that Valero Refining Co. agreed to pay $142,000 to settle violations at its refinery in Benicia. The settlement covers a group of 20 notices of violation issued to the company for non-compliance with air quality regulations that occurred largely in 2015.

The Air District has fined Chemtrade West US LLC $160,000 for air quality violations at its sulfuric acid manufacturing plant in Richmond, which is connected to the Chevron Richmond refinery. Chemtrade supplies various chemical products to industry, including sulfuric acid, which is a byproduct of refining crude oil. 

The Air District’s Finance Office has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for its fiscal year 2025–2026 budget document. The Air District’s Director of Finance, Stephanie Osaze, also received a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Preparation, instrumental in achieving this award.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District today announced a recent settlement with Chevron U.S.A to pay a $146,000 civil penalty for air quality violations at its refinery in Richmond. The settlement covers 22 notices of violation that the Air District issued for incidents that occurred between 2012 and 2014. 

Today, the Air District Board of Directors voted to retain Sharon Landers as the interim executive officer beginning Monday, May 23, for a nine-month contract. Ms. Landers will serve as the Air District’s interim executive officer while the Air District Board begins its search for a candidate to permanently fill the role.

The Air District is announcing that its independent Hearing Board has ordered Martin Marietta to get a permit for the company’s sand distribution plant located at Pier 92 in Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco. The Hearing Board has also imposed restrictions on the plant’s operations to reduce emissions and protect public health.

The Air District is announcing the expansion of its Clean Cars for All grant program, which offers incentives of up to $9,500 for income-qualified Bay Area residents to retire older cars and replace them with a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicle, or to get a pre-loaded Clipper Card for public transit. 

The Air District will host its first career fair on Tuesday, October 6, from 10am to 2pm at Saint Mary's Cathedral in the St. Francis Hall. The career fair will provide information about job opportunities at the Air District, and will give attendees an opportunity to speak to current employees about their areas of expertise.