Shell Refinery Fined $77,000 for Releasing Toxins Near Swinomish Reservation

Shell’s Puget Sound Refinery processes as much as 145,000 barrels (5.7 million gallons) of crude oil per day. Photo: Indian Country Today.

by Richard Walker, Indian Country Today, Dec 1, 2015

Shell’s Puget Sound Refinery near the Swinomish Reservation has been fined $77,000 by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for an uncontrolled release of toxins that sickened residents and sent at least two people to the hospital.

Penalty money will be placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, which helps workers and families, Labor & Industries reported November 20.