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Tesoro will pay about $150 million to install pollution controls at its Salt Lake City oil refinery as part of a settlement with the United States Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA on Monday announced the settlement, which includes $403 million in pollution-reduction efforts at six refineries operated by subsidiaries of Tesoro Corp. and Par Hawaii Refining. Tesoro will also pay $12 million for environmental projects in polluted communities and a $10 million civil penalty.

The settlement stems from alleged Clean Air Act violations related to leak detection and repair at refineries in Alaska, California, Hawaii, North Dakota, Utah and Washington.

"This settlement, achieved in partnership with states, will benefit the air quality in communities across the Western United States," U.S. Assistant Attorney General John Cruden said in a prepared statement. "It uses cutting-edge technology to address global environmental issues like climate change by controlling flaring and provides important reductions of harmful air pollution in communities facing environmental and health challenges."

The companies agreed to install infrared gas-imaging cameras, ultra-low nitrogen oxide burners and other tools to avoid leaks, flares and excess emissions that can lead to adverse health effects.

Pollution controls at the six refineries, when installed, are estimated to reduce annual emission of sulfur dioxide by 773 tons, nitrogen oxides by 407 tons, volatile organic compounds by 1,140 tons, hazardous air pollutants by 27 tons and hydrogen sulfide by 20 tons, the EPA announced.

The reductions will include the equivalent of 47,034 tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, according to the EPA.

"The advanced technologies Tesoro and Par are required to implement are the future for protecting people from toxic air emissions," Cynthia Giles, EPA assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance, said in a prepared statement. "This settlement puts new enforcement ideas to work that will dramatically cut pollution and protect communities. "

A 30-day public comment period is scheduled for the settlement, with details on the Department of Justice website.

Brian Moench, president of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, said his organization plans to review the consent decree and provide comment to the Department of Justice.

Bountiful residents have complained for years about refinery pollutants, Moench said.

And a state air-toxics study released last week showed higher concentrations of hazardous pollutants, like formaldehyde, in Bountiful than in other parts of Utah's Wasatch Front region.

Moench congratulated the EPA for taking steps to address the leaking and flaring issues at Tesoro's Utah refinery, and he says he hopes similar action will be taken at similar operations elsewhere.

"We wish it had been done years ago," he said. "But it is certainly good to have them taking an aggressive positive step toward reining some of that in."

Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment is involved in a lawsuit against Tesoro to limit expansion of the company's Utah refinery operations.

That lawsuit continues independent of Tesoro's settlement with the EPA, Moench said.

"This does not make our lawsuit moot in any way," he said.

Twitter: @bjaminwood