tesoro bak
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tesoro516
# 32 polluter, often paired with Valero eg prop 32
koch
capt 5/15
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http://tsocorp.com/social-responsibility/advocacy-and-public-policy/
Tesoro operates in a highly regulated and often politicized environment. As policymakers consider issues related to the energy sector, we believe it is our responsibility as an industry leader to advocate for sound energy policies and actively engage in the political process to ensure we continue to operate in a healthy business environment.
Governance
Our External Policy Committee provides guidance and direction to our Policy and Government Affairs teams in their development of policy positions and implementation of our policy and advocacy plans. The External Policy Committee is comprised of key executives including: Chief Executive Officer; Executive Vice President, Operations; Executive Vice President, General Counsel; Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business Development; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; Senior Vice President, Commercial; Vice President, Corporate Affairs; Vice President, Federal Government Affairs; and Vice President, State Government & Public Affairs. Specifically, our Policy and Government Affairs teams:
Identify and prioritize legislative and regulatory initiatives likely to have a material impact on our business;
Establish our positions on these initiatives; and
Engage with policymakers to communicate our positions.
Tesoro formulates our policy positions in a manner consistent with our Public Policy Principles, and in part, based on the principle of Shared Value, which considers viewpoints that are good for the environment, the community and our business. Priority policy areas for Tesoro currently include, refinery safety, fuel standards, environmental issues, including climate change, tax, and energy infrastructure.
In addition to providing oversight of the Board’s organizational structure and composition, the Governance Committee of our Board of Directors reviews the Company’s public policy and political spending activities. The Board of Directors and our Chief Executive Officer have delegated regular oversight of our public policy and political spending policies, protocols and activities to our Vice President, Corporate Affairs.
Our PAC and corporate political contributions policies require that political spending activities are overseen by the Vice President of Corporate Affairs. Political contributions are made consistent with our Public Policy Principles and to promote the interests of the Company, independent of the private political preferences of our executives or management. We maintain strict limits of authority with regard to political contributions. Political contributions to individual candidates, and to entities other than candidates, must be approved by the Vice President, Corporate Affairs. Corporate political contributions to individual candidates over $25,000, and contributions over $100,000 to entities other than candidates, must be approved by the Chief Executive Officer, General Counsel, and the Governance Committee of our Board of Directors.
Memberships in industry trade associations that are involved in political activity, and associated dues, must be approved by the Vice President, Corporate Affairs. Our Chief Executive Officer and the Governance Committee of our Board of Directors are informed of significant memberships in such organizations and associated dues.
Political Contributions
As part of our approach to engaging in the political process, we make corporate political contributions to individual candidates, committees, campaigns and organizations, while complying with all applicable federal, state and local contribution and reporting requirements. We also engage in the political process through our federal political action committee (PAC), and our Tesoro Alaska PAC which are voluntarily funded by eligible employees. In 2014, Tesoro made a total of $927,250 in corporate political contributions and our voluntary employee PAC contributed $238,500. See the linked tables for details of these contributions:
Tesoro Corporation 2014 Contributions to State Candidates
Tesoro Corporation 2014 State Contributions to Entities other than Candidates
Tesoro PAC 2014 Contributions to State Candidates
Tesoro PAC 2014 Contributions to Federal Level Candidates and Entities
Tesoro Alaska PAC 2014 Contributions to Candidates and other Entities
In 2014, we made two key independent expenditures in California. We contributed $500,000 to the Coalition to Restore California’s Middle Class, a bipartisan state-level independent expenditure committee providing support to candidates who promote jobs and economic growth in California. We also contributed $100,000 to support California Proposition 1, the Water Bond. The measure was approved and authorizes $7.12 billion in general obligation bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects, such as public water system improvements, drinking water protection, water recycling, water supply management, drought relief, emergency water supplies, and ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration.
Industry Trade Associations and Grassroots Communications
Tesoro actively participates in industry trade associations at the national, regional, state and local levels. We participate in order to engage in dialogue and technical and industry standard-setting, as well as to advocate on issues important to our company, industry and stakeholders. A portion of our non-tax exempt dues to certain industry trade associations may be used for the purposes of advocacy and grassroots communications. A list of our industry trade association memberships with annual non-tax exempt dues over $50,000 is provided below, including total dues paid and the non-tax exempt portion of our total dues for each organization:
Industry Trade Association Chart
We work to keep employees and stakeholders informed about public policy through our website, ActTesoro.com. The site provides information on current industry issues and facilitates outreach to elected representatives.
Approach to Reporting
Tesoro’s political contributions during the reporting period were all made in accordance with its corporate and PAC political contributions policies and protocols. Tesoro plans to report on its political contributions on an annual basis, beginning with 2014 full year data (reported in 2015). We will begin providing an archive of such reports beginning with our next reporting cycle.
https://tsocorpsite.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/tso-corp-2014-election-cycle-contributions-to-state-candidates1.pdf
</font><div data-canvas-width="95.9112" style="left: 120.04px; top: 65.45px; font-size: 26.6px; transform: scaleX(0.801152);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">TESORO </font></div><div data-canvas-width="289.7804" style="left: 215.833px; top: 65.45px; font-size: 26.6px; transform: scaleX(0.846362);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CORPORATION CONTRIBU</font></div><div data-canvas-width="68.36200000000001" style="left: 506.083px; top: 65.45px; font-size: 26.6px; transform: scaleX(0.841033);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">TIONS</font></div><div data-canvas-width="159.54000000000002" style="left: 120.04px; top: 101.4px; font-size: 20px; transform: scaleX(0.902801);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">2014 Election Cycle</font></div><div data-canvas-width="211.06000000000003" style="left: 120.04px; top: 129.633px; font-size: 20px; transform: scaleX(0.959146);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Political Contributions to </font></div><div data-canvas-width="187.64" style="left: 331.433px; top: 129.633px; font-size: 20px; transform: scaleX(0.907716);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Level Candidates</font></div><div style="left: 890.967px; top: 1261.36px; font-size: 18.4px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">2</font></div><div data-canvas-width="88.44879999999999" style="left: 120.04px; top: 179.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.900854);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Isado<b>re Hall</b></font></div><div data-canvas-width="98.3112" style="left: 327.633px; top: 179.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.881583);"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Senate </font></b></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 179.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></b></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 179.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$3,000</font></b></div><div data-canvas-width="107.64" style="left: 120.04px; top: 202.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907206);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Bob Hertzberg</font></div><div data-canvas-width="98.3112" style="left: 327.633px; top: 202.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.881583);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Senate </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 202.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 202.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$1,500</font></div><div data-canvas-width="65.8168" style="left: 120.04px; top: 225.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.923528);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Bob Huff</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 225.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 225.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 225.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$<b>4,100</b></font></div><div data-canvas-width="111.5776" style="left: 120.04px; top: 249.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.901516);"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Rudy Mendoza</font></b></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 249.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></b></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 249.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 249.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$1,500</font></div><div data-canvas-width="92.6624" style="left: 120.04px; top: 272.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.934254);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Kevin Mullin</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 272.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 272.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 272.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$1,500</font></div><div data-canvas-width="74.6304" style="left: 120.04px; top: 296.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.923834);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">O’Donnell</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 296.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 296.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 296.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$1,500</font></div><div data-canvas-width="93.80319999999999" style="left: 120.04px; top: 321.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.89936);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Kristin Olsen</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 321.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 321.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 321.433px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$4,100</font></div><div data-canvas-width="88.65119999999999" style="left: 120.04px; top: 344.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.875567);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Richard Pan</font></div><div data-canvas-width="98.3112" style="left: 327.633px; top: 344.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.881583);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Senate </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 344.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 344.633px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$2,500</font></div><div data-canvas-width="96.06639999999997" style="left: 120.04px; top: 367.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.894612);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Richard Roth</font></div><div data-canvas-width="98.3112" style="left: 327.633px; top: 367.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.881583);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Senate </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 367.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 367.833px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$3,000</font></div><div data-canvas-width="119.89439999999999" style="left: 120.04px; top: 391.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.908635);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Miguel Santiago</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 391.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 391.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 391.033px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$1,500</font></div><div data-canvas-width="83.77519999999998" style="left: 120.04px; top: 414.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.903399);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Andy Vidak</font></div><div data-canvas-width="98.3112" style="left: 327.633px; top: 414.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.881583);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Senate </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 414.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 414.233px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$3,000</font></div><div data-canvas-width="64.58399999999999" style="left: 120.04px; top: 437.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.877301);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jim Dear</font></div><div data-canvas-width="108.74399999999999" style="left: 327.633px; top: 437.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.901069);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Carson Mayor </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 437.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 437.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$1,000</font></div><div data-canvas-width="129.0024" style="left: 120.04px; top: 460.683px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.88814);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Roger Hernandez</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 460.683px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 460.683px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 460.683px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$2,000</font></div><div data-canvas-width="78.3656" style="left: 120.04px; top: 483.883px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.891024);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Eric Linder</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 483.883px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 483.883px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 483.883px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$2,000</font></div><div data-canvas-width="82.9288" style="left: 120.04px; top: 507.083px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.891069);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Adam Gray</font></div><div data-canvas-width="117.8888" style="left: 327.633px; top: 507.083px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.886715);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Assembly </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 507.083px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 507.083px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$2,000</font></div><div data-canvas-width="93.80319999999999" style="left: 120.04px; top: 530.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.89936);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Kristin Olsen</font></div><div data-canvas-width="98.3112" style="left: 327.633px; top: 530.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.881583);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">State Senate </font></div><div data-canvas-width="20.446399999999997" style="left: 661.717px; top: 530.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.800251);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CA</font></div><div data-canvas-width="51.0784" style="left: 855.367px; top: 530.483px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.907523);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$1,000</font></div><div data-canvas-width="146.26159999999996" style="left: 124.24px; top: 552.683px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.844954);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">CALIFORNIA <b>TOTAL</b></font></div><div data-canvas-width="69.88319999999997" style="left: 836.567px; top: 552.683px; font-size: 18.4px; transform: scaleX(0.91053);"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">$107,550</font></b></div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
The Kochs and their fossil-fuel-fed political network are reportedly gunning for the electric car.
According to an anonymous industry source who spoke to journalist Peter Stone, a new advocacy group will "make the public aware of all the benefits of petroleum-based transportation fuels."
If you think this sounds a bit nutty, you have to remember Koch front groups have also fought the implementation of street cars in city after city.
If the group follows the usual Koch playbook, expect bogus "research" studies by Koch-funded "think tanks," well-placed op-eds that repeat Koch talking points without disclosing ties to the network, and fear-mongering ads that hide their fossil fuel funding behind bland names like "Americans for Energy Freedom." (The group's actual name has yet to be announced.)
The effort is reportedly being headed by Koch Industries board member James Mahoney and lobbyist Charlie Drevna, formerly the president of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. The pair have reportedly been meeting with executives at fossil fuel corporations including Koch, Valero Energy, and Tesoro Corp. In his new position at the Koch-funded Institute for Energy Research, Drevna has already put out a paper attacking Tesla, while Mahoney led a seminar at January's Koch network retreat on "Changing the Energy Narrative."
The news of the emerging scheme against electric cars sparked new attention to the Koch network in the car industry, even provoking Tesla founder Elon Musk to mount a critique on Twitter....
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13048/kochs-go-after-electric-car-subsidies
political arm? bs http://www.acttesoro.com/about/tesoro-action-center/
1/1/10
By Juliet Eilperin
As Congress and the administration gear up for the fight over possible new curbs on U.S. greenhouse gas emitters this year, oil refining powerhouse Tesoro Corp. is expanding its Washington office.
The San Antonio, Tex.-based Fortune 100 company announced Monday that is has just hired Jamie Moore, a former senior aide to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), as director of federal government affairs. Moore will focus on representing Tesoro before Congress and the executive branch, according to company officials. He joins Stephen H. Brown, vice president and counsel for federal government affairs.
"Jamie brings tremendous familiarity with the issues facing our industry and a wealth of legislative experience developed over eight years of working in Senate Republican leadership circles," said Stephen Brown, Tesoro's vice president and counsel for federal government affairs.
At least no one can say independent oil refiners aren't doing their part to create jobs during this tough economic time.
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2009 congr test?
Aug. 19, 2009 Robert W. Goldman, Chair, Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of Tesoro Corporation
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http://influenceexplorer.com/organization/tesoro-corp/d0dc4b0b22834d1491ce33cb25e7f7ce?cycle=-1
Jerry Brown (D-CA)
Jim Matheson (D-UT)
Rick Larsen (D-WA)
Lamar Smith (R-TX)
Gene Green (D-TX)
Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)
Mitt Romney (R)
Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT)
Robert F. Bennett (R-UT)
Charlie A. Gonzalez (D-TX
$25,000$23,000$20,000$19,000$18,000$15,700$15,531$15,500$15,000$14,500Jerry Brown (D-CA)Jim Matheson (D-UT)Rick Larsen (D-WA)Lamar Smith (R-TX)Gene Green (D-TX)Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)Mitt Romney (R)Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT)Robert F. Bennett (R-UT)Charlie A. Gonzalez (D-TX
Yes On 23 - California Jobs Initia...
Voters Want More Choices-Save The ...
Citizens For Responsible Spending
Republican Party of California
Californians Against Higher Taxes ...
National Petrochemical & Refiners ...
Protectmarriage.Com
National Republican Congressional ...
Governor Schwarzeneggers Californi...
Hawaii Republican Party
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Tesoro: A Track Record of Pollution, Hostility to Workers, and Meddling in Politics
The facts about the Texas oil company with designs on Vancouver, WA.
Eric de Place on March 21, 2014 at 2:55 pm
This post is 25 in the series: The Northwest's Pipeline on Rails
Right about now, oil executives in Texas are boarding a plane bound for the Northwest. Their goal? To steam roll opposition to the monster oil train terminal that Tesoro wants to construct on the downtown waterfront of Vancouver, Washington.
Hot on the heels of learning that the local city council is narrowly opposed to the project, the oil refining giant is going on a full court press lobbying mission in Vancouver, Washington. The company’s leadership, including senior VPs and CEO Greg Goff, will be meeting behind closed doors with members of the city council and the Port of Vancouver. Then on Tuesday, March 25 from 1:00 to 2:00, they are holding a private meeting with 40 business leaders at the Heathman Lodge.
As a public service to the community of Vancouver, it’s worth explaining what Tesoro is—and why their oil train terminal has no place on the Columbia River.
Tesoro’s plan for Vancouver, Washington
Tesoro’s oil-by-rail terminal would handle up to 360,000 barrels of oil every day. That’s more oil than even the biggest pipeline in the region can handle and it would require moving 5 loaded oil trains (plus 5 unloaded ones) in and out of Vancouver every single day, on average.
Tesoro claims that its facilities will use rail tank cars safer than the obviously dangerous models that have exploded catastrophically in communities around North America. (Note that those newer cars also have clear safety flaws.) But as the Vancouver Columbian points out, many other companies would be able to use railways to ship oil to Tesoro’s Port of Vancouver site, and the company won’t guarantee anything about those tank cars.
Tesoro’s deadly Anacortes fire
In April 2010, an explosion at Tesoro’s Anacortes, Washington refinery killed seven workers, leading state regulators to cite the company for 39 “willful” and 5 “serious” violations of health and safety regulations, and slapping the firm with a $2.4 million fine—the largest penalty in state history. In fact, the state’s Department of Labor & Industries called it the “worst industrial disaster in the 37 years that L&I has been enforcing the state’s workplace safety law.”
The US Chemical Safety Board investigation and others found that the company’s lax safety culture led to a “complacent” attitude towards flammable leaks and occasional fires; that Tesoro did not correct a history of recurring leaks and placed workers in dangerous conditions; that Tesoro did not adequately maintain equipment before the lethal blast; and that the accident was rooted in “a deficient refinery safety culture, weak industry standards for safeguarding equipment, and a regulatory system that too often emphasizes activities rather than outcomes.”
Tesoro, along with former refinery owner, Shell Oil, settled a wrongful death suit filed by families of six of the workers who died for $39 million. And the US Environmental Protection Agency has opened a criminal investigation into Tesoro’s role in the fatal explosion.
Tesoro’s pollution
In addition to the deadly Anacortes fire, at least two other Tesoro petroleum-handling facilities have caught on fire in the last decade, including one in Salt Lake City and another in Martinez, California.
Tesoro has been cited for numerous safety and health violations, including more than one hundred air quality violations at a facility in the Bay Area, with fines totaling nearly $3 million dollars. In fact, a 2010 study by researchers at California universities found Tesoro “rank(s) worst in health impacts among all companies with refining operations in the state.”
Tesoro is one of the top 100 toxic air polluters in the US, has been sued by the EPA for failing to test its products for harmful contaminants. In May of 2013, Tesoro paid a $1.1 million EPA fine to settle a suit over the company’s failure to follow Clean Air Act requirements at its refineries in Alaska, North Dakota, Utah, and Washington. The suit filed covered thousands of violations.
Tesoro’s hostility to workers
In 2011, the year after seven workers were killed in Tesoro’s refinery, the United Steelworkers and the AFL-CIO asked shareholders of several oil companies to allow the firms to disclose more information on their safety practices and accident risks. Tesoro actively discouraged its shareholders from approving these measures, making it more difficult for their investors and oversight agencies to get a full picture of working conditions and hazards.
Tesoro has a track record of replacing union labor with non-union workers in Los Angeles. And in the Bay Area, after two refinery workers were burned by acid spewing from a broken pipe,Tesoro actually barred federal safety inspectors from the site to prevent them from investigating the accident. This was in spite of strong objections by the United Steelworkers, the union that represents Tesoro’s workers there. Less than a month later, a second “serious sulfuric acid release” sent two more workers to the hospital.
Today, at the Port of Vancouver, local longshoreman are opposing Tesoro and its oil terminal.
Tesoro’s pipeline spill
Tesoro CEO Greg Goff said recently, “Protection and care of the environment are fundamental to our core values.” Unfortunately, that was in a prepared statement issued after a burst Tesoro pipeline was responsible for one of the largest spills ever recorded in North Dakota—a spill that the company didn’t even bother to tell the affected landownerabout. Not until wheat farmer Steve Jensen had been smelling crude for days, and the tires of his combine were coated with oil, did it become public news. He told a local paper that the oil was “spewing and bubbling 6 inches high.”
Tesoro’s politics
Tesoro tried to hijack Washington policy by contributing $90,000 to a Tim Eyman initiative to give a one-third minority of state legislators the ability to block legislation. Tesoro was the initiative’s second-biggest funder.
In California, Tesoro spent $1.5 million in 2010 to fund a campaign to weaken the state’s environmental protection laws, and the firm worked to recruit other oil companies to join this effort. As then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said at the time, “Today, Valero and Tesoro are in a conspiracy. Not in a criminal conspiracy, but a cynical one about self-serving greed.”
In March 2011, Tesoro CEO Greg Goff went on record opposing any effort by the US EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.
Tesoro has sought to benefit from the revolving door between government and industry. Jamie Moore, Tesoro’s Director of Federal Government Affairs, worked as senior policy adviser to former Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for eight years. During that period, he assisted with formulating the Energy Policy Act of 2005, that exempted oil and gas companies from certain requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and gave $2.8 billion in tax breaks to the fossil fuels industry. Hutchison was one of the biggest beneficiaries of campaign contributions from Tesoro’s PAC in the 2010 election cycle, even though she had already announced her retirement. Hutchison retired in 2012 and joined a lobbying firm in 2013 that has represented Tesoro.
http://ecology.iww.org/node/384
Moore has joined Tesoro Corp. as its new director of federal government affairs. Moore worked for eight years as a senior policy adviser to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas). There, he worked on several pieces of energy legislation, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbying-hires/75589-lobbying-world#ixzz2ysm6VB8A
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The attorney representing the families of six of the seven refinery workers killed in an explosion in 2010 said they’ve settled a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesoro and Shell Oil Company. The families claimed the company deliberately ignored dangerous conditions at the Anacortes refinery that led to the blast, killing seven workers. Attorney David Beninger said the lawsuit settled last month for around $39 million and the money was divided among the families.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/24/1250344/-How-Long-Did-It-Take-Tesoro-to-Leak-865-000-Gallons-of-ND-Oil
So I saw this story today in the NY Times about a North Dakota farmer who smelled oil on his property and discovered that a Tesoro Logistics pipeline, running across his property, was leaking oil.
For several days last month, Steven Jensen smelled the oil, wafting up over his rolling wheat farm near Tioga.
snip
But in that part of northwestern North Dakota, where the rush to tap the Bakken shale field is roaring, the scent of crude is hardly uncommon. It was not until Sept. 29 that Mr. Jensen came across a six-inch spurt of oil gurgling up from his land and reported a spill.
As it turned out, a Tesoro Logistics pipeline had ruptured, spreading more than 865,000 gallons of oil across seven acres of Mr. Jensen’s farm. The spill is one of the largest inland oil pipeline accidents in the United States.
snip
A Tesoro spokeswoman, Tina Barbee, said in an e-mail that an internal inspection last month detected “anomalies” with the pipeline. But Tesoro was still waiting for details when Mr. Jensen discovered the spill.
The company estimated that the hole from which the oil leaked was about a quarter-inch in diameter.
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California, 2010
Koch subsidiary donates $1 million to stop Calif. GHG law
In September 2010, a company controlled by the Koch brothers donated $1 million to the campaign to pass Proposition 23, the Suspend AB 32 California ballot initiative that would halt the state's global warming law. The contribution came from Flint Hills Resources, a Kansas petrochemical company that is a subsidiary of Koch Industries. The Koch donation came a day after Tesoro, a Texas oil company that has been bankrolling the pro-Prop 23 campaign, put $1 million into the campaign coffers. According to the No Prop 23 campaign, 97 percent of the $8.2 million raised by the Yes forces has been given by oil-related interests and 89 percent of that money has come from out of state. Three companies, Koch Industries, Tesoro, and Valero -- another Texas-based oil company -- have provided 80 percent of those funds.[70]
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Vancouver, Washington Oil Train Terminal Approved By Port Commissioners
AP | Posted: 07/23/2013 3:52 pm EDT
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Port of Vancouver commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a lease for a Columbia River terminal that would take in crude oil by train from North Dakota and ship it to West Coast refineries.
About 60 people were at the port's office for the vote, which followed Monday night's public hearing, The Columbian reported (http://bit.ly/11ccypC ).
The project will be reviewed by the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, which will make a recommendation to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee for a final decision.
Port managers recommended approval of the deal with Tesoro Corp. and Savage Cos. for the economic benefits. Neighborhood and environmental groups oppose it because of safety and ecological risks.
Oil trains from the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota would run through the Columbia River Gorge and Vancouver.
Demonstrators outside Monday's hearing held banners in French and English that read, "In solidarity with Lac-Megantic," a reference to the Quebec town where 50 people were killed on July 6 when a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded.
Vancouver and Portland members of the national environmental group Climate Parents presented the three port commissioners with 14,000 signatures demanding they reject the Tesoro-Savage plan. Speakers at the workshop said the terminal would increase the risks of oil spills, releases toxics into the air and worsen climate change.
Tesoro is a current tenant at the port. With Savage it wants to build a 42-acre terminal with six storage tanks capable of handling 360,000 barrels a day for shipment to 19 West Coast and British Columbia refineries, The Oregonian reported (http://bit.ly/13AAtzW ).
By comparison, the Alaska pipeline is averaging 559,000 barrels a day this year, according to Alyeska Pipeline Services. A barrel is 42 gallons.
The Vancouver terminal operation would involve as many as four, mile-long oil trains a day, operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.
The 10-year lease would bring the port $4.5 million a year. It currently operates on revenue of $34 million a year.
The companies also would invest up to $100 million in the terminal that would employ 120 workers, and agree to rail and operation safety plans.
Tesoro, Savage and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have said they'll use modern equipment, rail cars and double-hulled vessels.
BNSF invested $100 million in railway upgrades last year in Washington, including track through the Gorge, spokesman Gus Melonas told The Oregonian. The company is training emergency response personnel in Stevenson and Vancouver on tank car operations, he said.
Trains already deliver oil to the U.S. Oil refinery in Tacoma and the Tesoro refinery near Anacortes. BP plans to build a rail yard at its Cherry Point refinery north of Bellingham.
An oil terminal already is operating on the Columbia at a former ethanol plant at Port Westward near Clatskanie, Ore. Other oil terminals are proposed in Tacoma and Grays Harbor County.
_
Information from: The Columbian, http://www.columbian.com
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http://climateprogress.org/2010/07/09/california-climate-law-proposition-23-ab32/#comment-284360
old fox stories gone? http://www.foxbusiness.com/topics/business/companies/tesoro.htm
current http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2010/10/04/tesoro-fined-million-deadly-washington-refinery-blast/
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prop 23
Written by (actually co-opted grom Ted Costa)
To manage their initiative to roll back California’s landmark climate change law, AB 32, big oil is turning to the same deceptive tobacco operatives who engineered Philip Morris’ fight against efforts to tax cigarettes and stop childhood as well as indoor smoking. According to veteran right-wing activist Ted Costa, former Philip Morris outside counsel Tom Hiltachk co-opted his AB 32 repeal initiative, known as Proposition 23 (“Prop 23?). Hiltachk’s name appears on both versions of Prop 23 filed with the California Attorney General, and his tactics and already ubiquitous in the campaign.
Hiltachk, who is also serving as an attorney for Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, has made a career writing misleading right-wing initiatives, then pitching the initiatives to corporations that may benefit from their passage. To fund Prop 23, he reached out to a friend from his days working for the tobacco industry, Mike Carpenter. Carpenter, the former top California lobbyist for Philip Morris, now lobbies for Valero, a Texan oil company with operations in California. To date, Valero has been the prime driver of the Prop 23, donating over $1 million so far directly to the effort.
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EXCLUSIVE: PowerPoint Reveals Tesoro Recruiting Other Oil Companies, Including BP, To Repeal CA Clean Energy
Progressive Media blogging series on the fossil fuel-funded Prop 23 effort to repeal California’s clean energy climate law. Read Rebecca Lefton’s posts on Prop 23's economic impact, national repercussions, and funding from Texas oil companies.
Working with veteran tobacco lobbyists in Sacramento, Texan oil companies are orchestrating a campaign to roll back California’s landmark clean energy climate change law, AB 32. So far, the largest donations have came from San Antonio-based Valero, which has ponied up over $1 million for the effort, and refining giant Tesoro, also based in San Antonio, contributing $525,000. Today, the Sacramento Bee reports that state Democrats are asking Attorney General Eric Holder to open an investigation into these donations.
In public, the repeal AB 32 campaign — given the Orwellian moniker “California Jobs Initiative” — says it is about helping low income people, small businesses, and improving the California economy. But behind closed doors, it’s about boosting already sky high oil company profits. According to Valero’s 10-Q corporate disclosure forms, the company views compliance with AB 32 as a risk to their bottom line.
According to a PowerPoint presentation obtained by the Wonk Room, Tesoro has been courting other oil companies to join their crusade to rescind AB 32. At an April 13th presentation to the Western States Petroleum Association, Dave Reed, a Tesoro refinery executive in Los Angeles, pitched his clean energy repeal initiative, Proposition 23. The Western States Petroleum Association is an oil trade group, like the American Petroleum Institute on the national level, that advocates for the interests of their industry, including expanded offshore drilling off California’s coast. The Association is made up of many oil companies operating in California, including BP, ExxonMobil, and Shell Pipeline. Reed’s PowerPoint drives home the message that cleaning the air and diversifying California’s energy sources will have a negative “impact on [Tesoro's] business.” View a screenshot of Page 15 of the presentation below:
Tesoro Presentation
Shortly after Reed’s presentation, three Western States Petroleum Association members — Venoco, Occidental Oil and Gas, and Berry Petroleum — donated to the Prop 23 campaign. Other Association members, like BP and ExxonMobil, have remained quiet — although it is possible these companies are secretly funneling their donations through fronts like the Adam Smith Foundation, a Missouri-based nonprofit that is mysteriously financing the repeal AB 32 campaign.
Leading Prop 23 proponent Assemblyman Dan Logue (R-Linda) told the Wonk Room that he expects that his effort will raise a whopping $50 million. To date, Chevron has explicitly steered clear of the Prop 23 campaign. To gain extra funds, Valero lobbyist Mike Carpenter, a former top Philip Morris political operative, has spent the past few months recruiting other trade association support for the initiative, spending April meeting with groups like the California League of Food Processors.
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Related Posts:
REPORT: The Politician Behind The Campaign To Repeal California’s Clean Energy Law
Smelling A Chance To Burn Oil Money, Tobacco Lobbyists Orchestrate Effort To Repeal CA Clean Energy Law
EXCLUSIVE: PowerPoint Reveals Tesoro Recruiting Other Oil Companies, Including BP, To Repeal CA Clean Energy
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