This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "Tesoro to pay $1.1 million for violation of clean-air rules" (Tribune, May 31):
Tesoro Corp. is being hit with the largest fine of its type for violating Environmental Protection Agency rules in its gasoline refineries in four states (including Utah) — a whopping $1.1 million. Or as I like to put it, 0.000037 percent of revenue, or 0.2 percent of profits.
Perspective: The same fine to a median U.S. family income (revenue) of about $50,000 would be a killer $1.85.
Tesoro says it takes its responsibilities "seriously" — just not seriously enough to do what is required.
But why should it, if the fine is less than the cost of implementing the standards? I'm speculating, but a $1.1 million fine is barely a blip on the radar of a $30 billion company. It's all in the perspective.
Steve Wynn
Salt Lake City