BP Products North America agreed yesterday to pay more than three quarters of a million dollars for violations of the Emergency Planning and Right-to-Know Act, EPCRA, at it’s Texas City refinery, the largest in the nation.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, BP will pay the US government a $420,662 civil penalty, and spend $365,000 on supplemental environmental projects in Texas City.
At issue is the company’s noncompliance with EPCRA toxic chemical reporting requirements.
- BP Failed to complete and submit toxic chemical release information to the EPA and state of Texas from 2002-2005.
- BP Failed to maintain any reporting records in 2004.
The list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting requirements is long and includes:
- benzene
- dioxin and dioxin like compounds
- formaldehyde
- lead compounds
- methanol
These new fines come in the wake the February 19 announcement of a $161 million settlement for the company’s noncompliance with a 2001 Clean Air Act regulation placing strict controls on benzene and benzene containing wastes generated during petroleum refining.
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