Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Port Arthur refinery explosion and fire
Reference material reports an explosion and fire at Valero’s Port Arthur refinery on March 23, 2026. Details concerning injuries, emissions, damage, cause and regulatory response are not established in the supplied material.
2024
Benicia air-pollution enforcement
California air-quality agencies fined Valero $82 million over air-pollution violations following a 2019 inspection at the Benicia refinery. The penalty was described in the reference material as the largest in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s history.
2022
Benicia petroleum-coke lawsuit
San Francisco Baykeeper sued Valero and shipping operator Amports, alleging that petroleum coke associated with Valero’s Benicia refinery was released into San Francisco Bay. The matter was settled in 2024 with monetary payment, cleanup obligations and measures intended to reduce dust and spills.