Ferndale plant has record of air-pollution notices

ConocoPhillips’ refinery near Ferndale has been repeatedly fined by regional air-pollution inspectors and last year drew two citations from state workplace-safety regulators who said a fire there was caused by faulty maintenance.

Refinery workers’ failure to lubricate a motor sparked the June 2010 fire, state records show. The motor, installed in 2008, required regular greasing, while the equipment it replaced had required only occasional maintenance, said Hector Castro, spokesman for the state Department of Labor and Industries. State officials levied a fine of $6,300.