Texas City refinery cited for 46 violations of the Texas Clean Air Act
HOUSTON - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has charged BP Products North America Inc. with violating state health safety and environmental protection laws including the Texas Clean Air Act the Texas Water Code and the Texas Health & Safety Code. The states 97-page enforcement action cites 46 separate unlawful pollutant emissions at BPs Texas City refinery--including the emission linked to the March 2005 explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 170.
BP Products is charged with polluting our environment concealing information from authorities and harming Texans" Attorney General Abbott said. In recent years more than 45 unlawful pollutant emissions occurred at BPs Texas City facility. This enforcement action holds BP accountable for failing to comply with environmental health and safety laws that are intended to protect Texans from harm."
Court documents filed by the state indicate that BPs Texas City refinery caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of unauthorized pollutant emissions. The Attorney Generals enforcement action cites a pattern of unnecessary and unlawful emissions"--which led the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to file 15 enforcement orders against BP between 2000 and 2007. Among the improperly released air pollutants were volatile organic compounds carbon monoxide hydrogen sulfide sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
According to the states enforcement action the unlawful emissions stemmed from poor operational practices and inadequate maintenance at BPs Texas City refinery. Court documents indicate the defendants conduct jeopardized its employees safety--as well as human health."
Under Texas law BP was required to report unlawful emissions to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and take corrective action to prevent future emissions. However BP not only failed to report emissions to environmental regulators within the legally mandated deadlines--but also did not take the necessary measures to prevent additional unlawful emissions in a timely manner.
On March 23 2005 an explosion at BPs Texas City facility killed fifteen people and injured 170 workers. That explosion led to the unlawful release of contaminants for more than 160 hours. An investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found that the event was avoidable" and stemmed from the defendants poor operations practices." The 2005 explosion was one of the 46 incidents cited in the Attorney Generals enforcement action.
BPs Texas City refinery produces gasoline distillates fuel oil sulfuric acid petroleum coke and petrochemical feedstocks.
The state is seeking an injunction requiring the company to implement all necessary measures to eliminate future unlawful emissions. The enforcement action seeks to require that BP install additional air quality monitors that will ensure future compliance with emissions restrictions. The state is also seeking civil penalties fines and attorneys fees.
A hearing on the states application for temporary injunction is scheduled for June 29 at 9 a.m. in a Travis County District Court.
The state is seeking an injunction requiring the company to implement all necessary measures to eliminate future unlawful emissions. The enforcement action seeks to require that BP install additional air quality monitors that will ensure future compliance with emissions restrictions. The state is also seeking civil penalties fines and attorneys fees.
A hearing on the states application for temporary injunction is scheduled for June 29 at 9 a.m. in a Travis County District Court.
