1.800.THE FIRM | 1.800.843.3476
The Cochran Firm Legal Blog
With Office Locations Nationwide
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Texas City Refinery to Spend $180 Million to Correct EPA Violations
In 2001, BP Products North America, Inc. signed a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2005 a devastating explosion and fire at their Texas City, Texas refinery killed 15 people and injured over 170 people. The investigation of this explosion revealed that BP Products was in violation of its 2001 consent decree and felony violations of the Clean Air Act.
In February 2009, BP Products agreed to spend nearly $180 million to clean up its operations and stop putting public health at risk. There is a high population of low income and minority people in this area.
The EPA violations to be corrected at the Texas City, Texas plant include:
• Limiting emissions of stratospheric ozone depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from leaking industrial and commercial cooling appliances. These will be retrofitted to use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.
• Improving oversight and management of asbestos-containing wastes generated during routine renovation and demolition activities. Asbestos can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
• Reduce air pollution from diesel vehicle emissions in Texas City and the surrounding area. Benzene is a hazardous air pollutant, known to cause a number of acute and chronic health effects, including cancer, nerve and immunity impairment, and adverse reproductive and developmental effects.
BP Products North America operates petroleum refineries in California, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Washington.
The Cochran Firm, with offices throughout the United States has personal injury and wrongful death attorneys who are experienced in investigating and settling cases involving personal injury claims. If you live in the Texas City area and believe you have a disease related to air pollution or asbestos contamination please contact the personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Houston, Texas for a consultation and case review.
In February 2009, BP Products agreed to spend nearly $180 million to clean up its operations and stop putting public health at risk. There is a high population of low income and minority people in this area.
The EPA violations to be corrected at the Texas City, Texas plant include:
• Limiting emissions of stratospheric ozone depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from leaking industrial and commercial cooling appliances. These will be retrofitted to use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.
• Improving oversight and management of asbestos-containing wastes generated during routine renovation and demolition activities. Asbestos can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
• Reduce air pollution from diesel vehicle emissions in Texas City and the surrounding area. Benzene is a hazardous air pollutant, known to cause a number of acute and chronic health effects, including cancer, nerve and immunity impairment, and adverse reproductive and developmental effects.
BP Products North America operates petroleum refineries in California, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Washington.
The Cochran Firm, with offices throughout the United States has personal injury and wrongful death attorneys who are experienced in investigating and settling cases involving personal injury claims. If you live in the Texas City area and believe you have a disease related to air pollution or asbestos contamination please contact the personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Houston, Texas for a consultation and case review.
Labels: Houston
posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:48 AM
<< Home