TCEQ: Total must pay $60,000 for environmental infractions
Published 9:58 am Thursday, September 20, 2018
By Ken Stickney
Total Petrochemicals and Refining in Port Arthur was among companies assessed penalties for environmental infractions, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said Wednesday.
TCEQ approved penalties against 32 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations. The penalties totaled $530,964.
Total was cited for six violations at the Port Arthur site, most of which involved failure to comply with emissions limits and exceeding the hourly maximum allowable emission rate. They were penalized $60,000 for three or more violations for the same action within a five-year period, 2012-2017.
TCEQ documents say the violations involved insignificant amounts of pollutants that did not pose risk to people or the environment.
The company has paid $30,000 to the state’s General Fund and must dedicate $30,000 to a Supplemental Environmental Project. The Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission will receive those funds.
Under the terms of the SEP, Total will contribute $30,000 to the West Port Arthur Home Energy Efficiency Project — The Lighthouse Program Project.
Under the terms of the SEP, money will be used to hire a contractor to conduct initial inspections at the homes of eligible applicants. Those inspections will determine whether the homes are suitable for weatherization upgrades.
The contractor will also determine what upgrades are appropriate and write a work plan, then do a final inspection after the work is completed.
TCEQ said implementing the project would benefit air quality by reducing residential fuel and electricity use for heating and cooling. According to the document, past energy audits have shown reductions of energy usage of 12-30 percent at homes where weatherization upgrades were made.
Payment for the SEP must be made to SETRPC and any publicity about the project must include a statement that the contribution was made as part of a TCEQ enforcement action.
“Total takes its responsibilities to the environment seriously, and wants to be a good neighbor,” said Camille Briggs, Total spokeswoman in Port Arthur. “When emissions occur and penalties are assessed, we want as much of that funding as possible to go back into our local community.
“While we strive every day to prevent emission events from occurring, Total is pleased that there are avenues to support initiatives that are important to the local community and environment.”
Included in the penalties issued by TCEQ on Wednesday is a fine of $120,000 against Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. in Harris County for air quality violations stemming from its failure to comply with permitted emissions rate and concentration limits at various times in 2016 and 2017.