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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: Province of British Columbia/Flickr
British Columbia's handling of hazardous spills falls short, audit reveals
British Columbia's preparedness for hazardous spills is inadequate, with outdated response plans and insufficient compliance oversight, an audit finds.
Amanda Follett Hosgood and Andrew MacLeod report for The Tyee.
In short:
- The audit highlighted that B.C.'s spill response plans are not current, there's a lack of procedures for identifying non-compliance, and First Nations are not consistently informed of spills.
- Nearly $14 million in costs from spills remains unrecovered, mainly from the bankrupt Neucel pulp mill, with the government only recovering a fraction of non-Neucel related costs.
- The Ministry of Environment has accepted nine recommendations from the audit, aiming to improve the province's management of hazardous spills.
Key quote:
"The program is designed for there to be consequences, but those responsible for spills don’t comply with the law."
— Michael Pickup, B.C. auditor general
Why this matters:
This audit reveals significant gaps in British Columbia's preparedness and response to such incidents, underlining the need for urgent reforms to safeguard communities and ecosystems from potential disasters. Effective management of hazardous spills is crucial for protecting public health and the environment.
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Allegheny County Controller to audit Clean Air Fund
The nearly $10 million pot of money comes from penalties and fines paid by polluters and is largely used to address air quality issues within the county.
Father of Canadian climate science reflects on a career in the era of global warming
Since the 1950s, Jim Bruce has played a role in some of the most consequential events in climate science at home and abroad. At 93, the renowned climate scientist gives Canada's National Observer his take on what it will take to pull human society out of its death spiral.
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