The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) today
approved penalties totaling $554,909 against 69 regulated entities
for violations of state environmental regulations.
Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement
categories: three agricultural, 12 air quality, three dry cleaner,
two Edwards Aquifer, three field citations, one industrial
hazardous waste, four industrial waste discharge, four licensed
irrigator, three multi-media, one municipal solid waste, 15
municipal waste discharge, two petroleum storage tank, seven public
water system, one sludge, one underground injection, and three
water quality. In addition, there were default orders issued for
the following categories: three dry cleaner, and one municipal
waste discharge.
Included in the total fine figure is a penalty of $137,600
against E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company in Jefferson County.
The fines are the result of a discharge of more than 4,000 gallons
of acrylonitrile, a liquid chemical used in making plastics, into
the West Marsh area resulting in a fish kill.
The TCEQ's next agenda meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7. 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.
