The Valley Pacific Petroleum Services, Inc., operating as Renner Petroleum, has agreed to a hefty $1.1 million settlement following the uncovering of multiple environmental law infringements, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office recently disclosed in a collective action joined by multiple California counties.

The inquiry into Valley Pacific Petroleum's non-conformities was initiated when a petroleum spill at a Cloverdale station set off alarms. Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division's Fire Marshal, upon inspection, unearthed that three above-ground storage tanks in use were without necessary permits and failed to meet regulatory criteria. This spill is now the tip of an iceberg, for identical infractions were subsequently identified at various other locations, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez remarked, "Our office is deeply committed to making sure that companies that do business in our county comply with Environmental Regulations to protect our natural resources," emphasizing the collaborative enforcement endeavors with local agencies such as Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division, as cited by the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.

The settlement, ratified on November 19 by Judge Bradford DeMeo and disclosed via social media, not only addresses the financial aspects but also legally binds Valley Pacific Petroleum to refrain from employing substandard above-ground storage tanks and to adhere strictly to specific chapters of the Health & Safety Code. Deputy District Attorneys Caroline L. Fowler and Dustin Hughson led the charge in the case's prosecution.