The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today approved
penalties totaling $662,785 against 70 regulated entities for
violations of state environmental regulations.
Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement
categories: two agricultural, 24 air quality, two dry cleaner, one
field citation, two industrial waste discharge, three multi-media,
four municipal solid waste, ten municipal waste discharge, six
petroleum storage tank, eight public water system, and six water
quality. In addition, there were default orders issued for the
following categories: one multi-media, and one petroleum storage
tank.
Included in the total is a fine of $135,538 against Conoco
Phillips Company in Chambers County. Penalties were assessed for
air violations noted in a routine investigation on November 3, 2006
including volatile organic compound emissions exceeding the
permitted rate, and failure to report the excess emissions. A
portion of the fine--$67,769 will be used by Chambers County school
districts and transit agencies to supplement funding for clean air
programs.
Also, the commission voted to approve the air permit renewal
application of ASARCO, LLC to operate a copper smelter in El Paso,
Texas.
The TCEQ's next agenda meeting is scheduled for Feb. 27. Agenda
items from all commission meetings and work sessions can be viewed
at the TCEQ Web site. The meeting is also webcast live for free,
and archived meetings are available, at www.texasadmin.com/cgi-bin/tnrcc.cgi.
