clean air act
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Petrochemical company faces hefty fines for 2019 explosions in Texas
A Texas petrochemical company has agreed to pay more than $30 million in fines and penalties for Clean Air Act violations following explosions in 2019 that injured workers and forced mass evacuations.
In short:
- The 2019 explosions at TPC Group's plant in Port Neches, Texas, forced the evacuation of over 50,000 people and released over 11 million pounds of hazardous substances.
- The U.S. Justice Department announced the company will pay $30 million in criminal fines and civil penalties and spend $80 million to enhance safety and risk management.
- The explosions caused more than $130 million in offsite property damage, impacting human health and the environment significantly.
Key quote:
"Today’s guilty plea shows that businesses that choose to place profits over safeguards and legal compliance will face serious consequences."
— Damien M. Diggs, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas
Why this matters:
This case highlights the serious health and environmental risks associated with petrochemical plant safety failures and reinforces the importance of regulatory compliance to minimize future incidents. Read more: Texas has more chemical emergencies than any other state and they’re disproportionately affecting Latino communities.
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Credit: Denny Franzkowiak/Pixabay
Federal judge challenges EPA's pollution rules in Louisiana
In a significant legal development, a federal judge has temporarily halted the enforcement of Environmental Protection Agency regulations aimed at reducing pollution in minority and low-income areas in Louisiana.
In short:
- The ruling temporarily blocks the EPA from enforcing "disparate impact" rules, which mandate lower pollution levels in minority and low-income areas compared to majority white areas.
- The lawsuit, initiated by then-Attorney General Jeff Landry, challenges the constitutionality of the EPA's actions and their alignment with the Clean Air Act.
- Judge James Cain's decision raises questions about the balance between environmental justice and legal boundaries set by Congress and the Civil Rights Act.
Key quote:
"The public interest here is that governmental agencies abide by its laws, and treat all of its citizens equally, without considering race. To be sure, if a decision maker has to consider race, to decide, it has indeed participated in racism. Pollution does not discriminate."
— U.S. District Judge James Cain
Why this matters:
This case underscores the complex intersection of environmental justice, racial equity, and legal frameworks. It's a pivotal moment for communities in "Cancer Alley" and beyond, highlighting the ongoing struggle to balance public health needs with regulatory boundaries. This decision could set a precedent affecting national environmental policies and health outcomes, especially in vulnerable communities.
Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley" has the grim distinction of having the nation’s highest levels of carcinogen-laced air.
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Photo by Adam Michael Szuscik on Unsplash
Supreme Court weighs overturning a pillar of regulatory law
While federal agencies are promulgating a slew of climate regulations, the high court heard arguments for limiting regulators' power.
Newsletter
Credit: FracTracker Alliance/Ted Auch/Flickr
‘Major’ problem in Texas: How big polluters evade federal law and get away with it
Industrial developers describe facilities as “minor” polluters to avoid federal permitting requirements, and environmental lawyers say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality lets it happen.
What is the exceptional events rule? The loophole letting US regulators wipe air pollution from the record
First pushed through by the Republican senator and climate denier Jim Inhofe, the exceptional events rule has become a ‘regulatory escape hatch’ for states that want to meet federal air-quality standards.
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What is the exceptional events rule? The loophole letting US regulators wipe air pollution from the record
First pushed through by the Republican senator and climate denier Jim Inhofe, the exceptional events rule has become a ‘regulatory escape hatch’ for states that want to meet federal air-quality standards.
What is the exceptional events rule? The loophole letting US regulators wipe air pollution from the record
First pushed through by the Republican senator and climate denier Jim Inhofe, the exceptional events rule has become a ‘regulatory escape hatch’ for states that want to meet federal air-quality standards.
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