Whats with the big JUMP IN FUEL PRICES IN N CALIF? 15 Cents rise this week. Is more on the way? IS the TOSCO REFINERY REALLY CLOSING??? GENO N CA.~~

-- Gene (headturbo@hotmail.com), June 29, 2000

Answers

Maybe this has something to do with it.

Tosco threatens to shut down refinery greenspun.com : LUSENET : Grassroots Information Coordination Center (GICC) : One Thread ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

Tosco threatens to shut down refinery if pollution rules are enforced Filed: 06/20/2000

MARTINEZ, Calif. (AP)  A top Tosco Refining Co. executive says he will shut down the company's refinery by July 1 if state agencies enforce new dioxin discharge limits.

Tosco President Dwight Wiggins told the San Francisco Chronicle for a story Tuesday that the company cannot meet stricter rules for dioxin in the refinery's waste water, which are due to take effect next month.

The Regional Water Quality Control Board will hear Tosco's request to modify its permit at a meeting Wednesday in Oakland.

A shutdown of the plant during the peak summer driving season would likely impact prices at California pumps. Tosco supplies nearly 20 percent of the state's diesel fuel and 5 percent of its gasoline. Gas prices soared last year following an explosion at the refinery that shut down the plant for four months

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 29, 2000.