Texas Commission on Environmental Quality levied fine on two local petrochemical companies

06-Nov-09

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has levied a fine on two local petrochemical players in the state. A fine of US$10000 has been imposed on INEOS for releasing more than 7,700 lbs of emissions from a flare at its Chocolate Bayou facility over a 17-hour period beginning Dec. 29, 2008. The incident included the release of 3,762 lbs of carbon monoxide, 3,124 lbs of ethylene and 738 lbs of nitrogen oxide. INEOS has agreed to pay US$8000 to the commission for the violation, and the balance has been deferred. A fine of US$10,370 has been imposed on Chevron Phillips Chemical for submitting incorrect information to the commission about emissions compliance from Oct. 1, 2007, to Sept. 30, 2008, and failing to prevent emissions from flares over an 18-minute period on May 3, 2008, commission documents state. The company has agreed to pay $8,296 to be split up equally between the Texas Association of Resource Conservation and Development Areas for clean school buses, and the commission.