Phillips 66 Indicted for Wastewater Violations by Grand Jury

Phillips 66, a major U.S. oil company, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for violating the Clean Water Act through the illegal discharge of nearly 800,000 gallons of contaminated wastewater into Los Angeles County's sewer system. The charges include two counts of negligent violations and four counts of knowing violations, with potential penalties of up to $2.4 million in fines and five years of probation per count. The alleged incidents occurred at the company's Carson refinery in November 2020 and February 2021, with significant amounts of oil and grease exceeding permissible levels being released. Phillips 66 is accused of failing to report these discharges to authorities, despite acknowledging the violations after receiving notices from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. The company has stated its intention to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office while maintaining its commitment to operational safety and community protection. An arraignment is expected in the coming weeks.