Environmental compliance

Environmental compliance in California

525,910 active EPA-regulated sites in California: 2,173 with an identified violation, 380 in significant violation, $232.5 million in penalties over five years — EPA ECHO, as of October 18, 2026, by county and facility.

Cite: FACTANKER, https://factanker.com/us-environmental-compliance/ca

How many facilities in California are regulated by the EPA, and how many are in violation (as of October 18, 2026)?

Measure	Value
Active EPA-regulated sites	525,910
Sites with an identified violation	2,173
Sites in significant violation	380
Inspections and evaluations, last 5 years	20,146
Formal enforcement actions, last 5 years	9,474
Penalties, last 5 years (shared federal cases once)	$232.5 million

How many active facilities in California fall under each EPA program?

A facility can be in several programs.

Program	Active sites
Air (Clean Air Act)	2,419
Water discharge permits (Clean Water Act, NPDES)	43,763
Hazardous waste (RCRA)	482,929
Drinking water systems (SDWA)	7,184
Toxics Release Inventory reporters	1,075
Greenhouse gas reporters (GHGRP)	403

Which counties in California have the most facilities in significant violation of EPA rules?

County	Active sites	In violation	Significant violation	Penalties, 5 years
Los Angeles County	126,607	238	53	$33.1 million
Kern County	9,395	90	50	$25.4 million
Contra Costa County	15,565	64	27	$50.1 million
Santa Clara County	27,671	65	23	$10.0 million
Alameda County	26,119	53	19	$14.8 million
Orange County	55,823	101	16	$10.4 million
San Bernardino County	23,593	145	16	$8.5 million
Fresno County	11,053	70	15	$10.5 million
Santa Barbara County	6,331	43	14	$73.2 million
San Joaquin County	7,957	69	13	$14.5 million
San Diego County	49,319	61	12	$10.0 million
Stanislaus County	5,477	58	11	$7.7 million
Merced County	2,857	27	9	$7.0 million
Solano County	4,610	22	8	$10.2 million
Riverside County	21,003	100	6	$6.8 million
Napa County	2,273	36	6	$5.5 million
Humboldt County	1,623	41	6	$5.6 million
Tulare County	4,622	66	5	$6.3 million
San Luis Obispo County	3,900	25	5	$8.5 million
Sacramento County	13,535	57	4	$12.2 million
San Mateo County	13,271	18	4	$6.1 million
San Francisco County	11,939	6	4	$5.7 million
El Dorado County	2,057	13	4	$5.3 million
Madera County	1,708	25	4	$758,118
Ventura County	14,054	60	3	$8.6 million
Sonoma County	6,991	63	3	$6.6 million
Placer County	3,746	19	3	$6.1 million
Shasta County	2,428	41	3	$265,178
Mendocino County	1,291	24	3	$5.3 million
Nevada County	1,169	10	3	$5.4 million
Marin County	5,253	12	2	$5.4 million
Glenn County	774	7	2	$642,700
Siskiyou County	700	31	2	$5.7 million
Plumas County	527	16	2	$45,000
Mono County	245	11	2	$0
Modoc County	141	7	2	$1,900
Monterey County	5,462	76	1	$6.4 million
Santa Cruz County	3,085	25	1	$6.0 million
Yolo County	3,083	19	1	$6.2 million
Imperial County	2,130	30	1	$6.8 million
Kings County	1,548	8	1	$4.5 million
Tehama County	789	40	1	$33,000
Tuolumne County	754	13	1	$0
Yuba County	704	14	1	$5.3 million
San Benito County	675	12	1	$321,000
Calaveras County	569	6	1	$0
Inyo County	397	23	1	$5.3 million
Del Norte County	257	11	1	$5.3 million
Mariposa County	255	11	1	$0
Sierra County	90	2	1	$261,000
Butte County	2,653	29	0	$5.3 million
Sutter County	1,167	7	0	$42,000
Lake County	734	15	0	$5.3 million
Amador County	518	7	0	$0
Colusa County	458	5	0	$21,865
Lassen County	335	7	0	$0
Trinity County	222	13	0	$0
Alpine County	76	3	0	$0

Which large facilities in California are in significant violation of EPA rules?

Facility	Compliance status	Quarters in violation (of 12)	Penalties, 5 years
TESORO GOLDEN EAGLE REFINERY Martinez, CA	Significant Violation	12	$29.4 million
MARTINEZ REFINING COMPANY LLC (PREVIOUSLY SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US, MARTINEZ REF.) Martinez, CA	Significant Violation	12	$6.4 million
KERN ENERGY Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$4.9 million
VALERO BENICIA ASPHALT PLANT Benicia, CA	Significant Violation	12	$4.2 million
CHEVRON REFINERY RICHMOND Richmond, CA	Significant Violation	12	$3.4 million
MARTINEZ REFINING Martinez, CA	Significant Violation	12	$2.3 million
SACRAMENTO COUNTY LANDFILL (KIEFER) Sloughhouse, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1.2 million
CHEMTRADE WEST US LLC Richmond, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1.2 million
CHEVRON EL SEGUNDO REFINERY El Segundo, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1.1 million
AERA ENERGY BELRIDGE Mckittrick, CA	Significant Violation	12	$915,250
SENTINEL PEAK RESOURCES CA LLC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$874,136
AERA ENERGY LLC AES 08252016 Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$864,682
VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$818,031
OWENS-BROCKWAY GLASS CONTAINER INC Los Angeles, CA	Significant Violation	12	$686,306
VITRO FLAT GLASS LLC Fresno, CA	Significant Violation	12	$657,500
CHEVRON USA-TAFT LIGHT OIL Taft, CA	Significant Violation	12	$606,825
CHEVRON USA INC - BAKERSFIELD Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$605,050
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES PRODUCTION CORP Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$601,800
CERTAINTEED, CHOWCHILLA PLANT Chowchilla, CA	Significant Violation	12	$522,718
GALLO GLASS COMPANY Modesto, CA	Significant Violation	12	$521,392
J.R. SIMPLOT COMPANY Lathrop, CA	Significant Violation	12	$469,200
HILMAR CHEESE CO Hilmar, CA	Significant Violation	12	$466,464
LEHIGH SOUTHWEST CEMENT COMPANY Cupertino, CA	Significant Violation	12	$441,810
SAN JOAQUIN REFINING CO INC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$402,520
AB&I FOUNDRY Oakland, CA	Significant Violation	12	$287,000
TESLA MOTORS INC Fremont, CA	Significant Violation	12	$275,000
CHEVRON USA INC- HEAVY OIL Taft, CA	Significant Violation	12	$271,670
ALTAMONT LANDFILL AND RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY Livermore, CA	Significant Violation	12	$270,071
CHEVRON USA_(FORMERLY MIDWAY SUNSET OIL) Fellows, CA	Significant Violation	12	$251,650
AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES US LP Rodeo, CA	Significant Violation	12	$244,000
OAKLAND POWER PLANT Oakland, CA	Significant Violation	12	$238,500
CALIFORNIA STEEL INDUSTRIES INC Fontana, CA	Significant Violation	12	$226,047
FRITO-LAY, INC. Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$211,976
PACIFIC PIPELINE SYSTEM, LLC Maricopa, CA	Significant Violation	12	$209,000
PARAMOUNT PETROLEUM CORPORATION REFINERY Paramount, CA	Significant Violation	12	$200,422
ARDAGH GLASS INC Madera, CA	Significant Violation	12	$199,000
REPUBLIC SERVICES OF SONOMA COUNTY Petaluma (Historical), CA	Significant Violation	12	$189,000
WOODBRIDGE WINERY Acampo, CA	Significant Violation	12	$183,000
BFI - THE RECYCLERY - LANDFILL San Jose, CA	Significant Violation	12	$181,000
ANHEUSER-BUSCH LLC - FAIRFIELD BREWERY Fairfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$174,813
REPUBLIC SERVICES - KELLER CANYON LANDFILL Pittsburg, CA	Significant Violation	12	$167,750
WEST COUNTY LANDFILL Richmond, CA	Significant Violation	12	$160,005
VINTAGE PETROLEUM INC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$155,500
KIRBY CANYON RECYCLING & DISPOSAL Morgan Hill, CA	Significant Violation	12	$149,000
E & J GALLO WINERY & BRANDY Modesto, CA	Significant Violation	12	$135,000
C&H SUGAR CO INC Crockett, CA	Significant Violation	12	$128,500
EL CENTRO GENERATING STATION El Centro, CA	Significant Violation	12	$118,110
REWORLD STANISLAUS COUNTY RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILTY - LANDFILL Crows Landing, CA	Significant Violation	12	$116,665
LINN OPERATING INC Taft, CA	Significant Violation	12	$114,520
PLAINS MARKETING, LP Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$114,000
POTRERO HILLS LANDFILL Suisun City, CA	Significant Violation	12	$111,000
CALIFORNIA DAIRIES INC TURLOCK Turlock, CA	Significant Violation	12	$103,830
MT. POSO COGENERATION FACILITY Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$100,000
TRICOR REFINING, LLC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$95,000
AERA ENERGY - KERN MIDWAY Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$82,500
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES PRODUCTION CORP Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$79,125
SOUTH COLES LEVEE GAS PLANT Tupman, CA	Significant Violation	12	$77,900
TULARE CITY WASTE WATER PLANT Tulare, CA	Significant Violation	12	$73,637
BROWNING - FERRIS INDUSTRIES OF CA INC - LANDFILL Half Moon Bay, CA	Significant Violation	12	$70,000
LAND O LAKES - TULARE DCCA Tulare, CA	Significant Violation	12	$64,500
E&J GALLO WINERY Livingston, CA	Significant Violation	12	$63,000
ASV WINES INC Mcfarland, CA	Significant Violation	12	$60,400
SANTA ROSA LAGUNA WWTP Santa Rosa, CA	Significant Violation	12	$56,000
CITY OF ARCATA WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY Arcata, CA	Significant Violation	12	$48,000
LOS MEDANOS ENERGY CENTER Pittsburg, CA	Significant Violation	12	$46,090
VA MEDICAL CENTER Fresno, CA	Significant Violation	12	$44,344
MATRIX OIL CORP. Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$43,000
DELTA ENERGY CENTER Pittsburg, CA	Significant Violation	12	$40,000
AERA ENERGY Fresno County, CA	Significant Violation	12	$39,000
VALERO BENICIA ASPHALT PLANT Benicia, CA	Significant Violation	12	$39,000
PRISON INDUSTRIY AUTHORITY - CORCORAN Corcoran, CA	Significant Violation	12	$38,336
LINN OPERATING INC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$37,200
CITY OF SUNNYVALE WTR POLLUTION Sunnyvale, CA	Significant Violation	12	$30,000
GUADALUPE DISPOSAL SITE LANDFILL San Jose, CA	Significant Violation	12	$29,000
ALL AMERICAN OIL & GAS INC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$29,000
PLAINS PIPELINE, LP PENTLAND PUMP STAT Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$28,125
AES REDONDO BEACH, LLC Redondo Beach, CA	Significant Violation	12	$27,000
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Berkeley, CA	Significant Violation	12	$27,000
FOOTHILL SANITARY LANDFILL Linden, CA	Significant Violation	12	$23,000
BAKER COMMODITIES, INC Kerman, CA	Significant Violation	12	$21,080
PELICAN RENEWABLES, LLC Stockton, CA	Significant Violation	12	$20,500
ACME LANDFILL Martinez, CA	Significant Violation	12	$17,500
CITY OF SUNNYVALE/PUBLIC WORKS DEPT Sunnyvale, CA	Significant Violation	12	$16,000
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES PRODUCTION CORP Kern County, CA	Significant Violation	12	$14,350
FRESNO/CLOVIS REGIONAL WWTP Fresno, CA	Significant Violation	12	$13,000
FORWARD INC LANDFILL Manteca, CA	Significant Violation	12	$10,000
NAFTEX OPERATING CO-PORTALS PETRO LEASE Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$9,000
CALIFORNIA DAIRIES INC VISALIA Visalia, CA	Significant Violation	12	$8,000
VASCO ROAD LANDFILL Livermore, CA	Significant Violation	12	$8,000
SAN JOSE/SANTA CLARA WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT San Jose, CA	Significant Violation	12	$6,000
CUSTOM MARBLE AND ONYX Modesto, CA	Significant Violation	12	$6,000
HATHAWAY LLC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$5,324
REDWOOD LANDFILL Novato, CA	Significant Violation	12	$5,000
FINK ROAD LANDFILL Crows Landing, CA	Significant Violation	12	$3,000
PHILLIPS 66 RODEO REFINERY Rodeo, CA	Significant Violation	12	$3,000
AMERICAN AVENUE LANDFILL Kerman, CA	Significant Violation	12	$2,420
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT San Francisco Intnl Airport, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1,750
PACIFIC PROCESS SYSTEMS Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1,500
HECK CELLARS WINERY Di Giorgio, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1,200
HIGHWAY 59 LANDFILL Merced, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1,000

Which large facilities in California had the highest environmental penalties in the last five years?

Facility	Compliance status	Quarters in violation (of 12)	Penalties, 5 years
TESORO GOLDEN EAGLE REFINERY Martinez, CA	Significant Violation	12	$29.4 million
MARTINEZ REFINING COMPANY LLC (PREVIOUSLY SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US, MARTINEZ REF.) Martinez, CA	Significant Violation	12	$6.4 million
KERN ENERGY Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$4.9 million
OWENS-BROCKWAY GLASS CONTAINER TRACY Tracy, CA	No Violation Identified	10	$4.2 million
VALERO BENICIA ASPHALT PLANT Benicia, CA	Significant Violation	12	$4.2 million
CHEVRON REFINERY RICHMOND Richmond, CA	Significant Violation	12	$3.4 million
GEM OF RANCHO CORDOVA LLC Rancho Cordova, CA	No Violation Identified	2	$3.1 million
PRISON INDUSTRY AUTHORITY--AVENAL Avenal, CA	No Violation Identified	9	$2.6 million
ECOBAT RESOURCES CALIFORNIA INC City Of Industry, CA	No Violation Identified	0	$2.6 million
MARTINEZ REFINING Martinez, CA	Significant Violation	12	$2.3 million
SACRAMENTO COUNTY LANDFILL (KIEFER) Sloughhouse, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1.2 million
CHEMTRADE WEST US LLC Richmond, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1.2 million
CHEVRON EL SEGUNDO REFINERY El Segundo, CA	Significant Violation	12	$1.1 million
ENGINEERED POLYMER SOLUTIONS INC Los Angeles, CA	Violation	6	$919,298
AERA ENERGY BELRIDGE Mckittrick, CA	Significant Violation	12	$915,250
SENTINEL PEAK RESOURCES CA LLC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$874,136
AERA ENERGY LLC AES 08252016 Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$864,682
VINTAGE PETROLEUM, INC Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$818,031
OWENS-BROCKWAY GLASS CONTAINER INC Los Angeles, CA	Significant Violation	12	$686,306
SIX FLAGS THEMES PKS INC,SIX FLAGS MAGIC Valencia, CA	No Violation Identified	8	$675,000
VITRO FLAT GLASS LLC Fresno, CA	Significant Violation	12	$657,500
CLEAN HARBORS BUTTONWILLOW, LLC Buttonwillow, CA	No Violation Identified	7	$637,250
CHEVRON USA-TAFT LIGHT OIL Taft, CA	Significant Violation	12	$606,825
CHEVRON USA INC - BAKERSFIELD Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$605,050
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES PRODUCTION CORP Bakersfield, CA	Significant Violation	12	$601,800

EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), weekly national export. Counts cover active sites in the Facility Registry Service; inspections, formal actions and penalties cover the last five years, quarters in violation the last three years. The EPA attributes a case that covers several facilities to each of them; area penalty totals here count an amount shared through the same federal case once, facility figures show the amount attributed to that facility. Large facilities are Clean Air Act majors, Clean Water Act majors and large hazardous waste generators or handlers. Source record.

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