Austin TX (7/25/2018) – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today approved penalties totaling $1,669,413 against 48 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations.

Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: two air quality, one industrial hazardous waste, one industrial wastewater discharge, five multimedia, nine municipal wastewater discharge, 12 petroleum storage tank, 11 public water system, and one water quality.

Default orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: one dry cleaner, one multimedia, one municipal solid waste, two petroleum storage tank, and one public water system.

Included in the total is a fine of $907,191 against the Pasadena Refining System, Inc. in Harris County for air and water quality violations stemming from failure to prevent unauthorized emissions and failure to comply with effluent limitations on various dates between March 2011 and December 2013. As part of a Supplemental Environmental Project, $250,000 will be used by the Houston-Galveston Area Council to replace high-emission buses with new lower emission buses or to retrofit buses with emissions-reducing equipment. Also, as part of the SEP, $146,595 will be paid to Armand Bayou Nature Center for a restoration project. Funds in the amount of $57,000 will be paid to the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority to help fund a trash collection event.

In addition, on July 10, 17, and 24, 2018, the executive director approved a total of 67 penalties, totaling $194,601.

The TCEQ’s next agenda meeting is scheduled for Aug. 8, 2018. Agenda items from today’s meeting can be viewed on the TCEQ website. All agendas are webcast live for free, and archived meetings are available on TexasAdmin.com. Follow us on Twitter: @TCEQ

Media contact: Brian McGovern TCEQ Media Relations Specialist Brian.McGovern@Tceq.Texas.Gov 512-239-5003