The judgment, announced Friday by state Attorney General Jerry Brown, stemmed from allegations that Shell Oil and affiliated companies failed to maintain leak-detection or spill-alarm equipment, among other violations.

The local stations -- in Clovis, Fresno, Kingsburg, Selma, Kettleman City, Tulare and Visalia -- are among more than 1,600 in the state that are subject to requirements for improved monitoring and maintenance of underground tanks, better employee training and improved recordkeeping.