Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn has filed criminal charges against Unocal Corp., alleging that two releases of foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide gas from its Wilmington refinery sickened elementary school students and teachers at three nearby schools.
Unocal spokesman Barry Lane said the oil company would have no comment until its lawyers reviewed the case.
The charges are the second against Unocal in the last year and a half. In May, 1988, Unocal was charged with releasing pollutants into the air from a refinery smokestack.
