{"id":27283,"date":"2016-10-13T12:07:06","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T19:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=27283"},"modified":"2016-10-13T12:07:06","modified_gmt":"2016-10-13T19:07:06","slug":"four-oil-companies-pay-3-5-million-for-violating-clean-air-act-resulting-in-explosion-one-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=27283","title":{"rendered":"Four Oil Companies Pay $3.5 Million for Violating Clean Air Act, Resulting in Explosion, One Death"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXAS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Related Video Below: \u00a0Port Arthur a Hazardous Place to Live)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Four Texas companies plead guilty and agreed to pay a total of $3.5 million dollars for criminal violations of the Clean Air Act at two oil and chemical processing facilities in Texas, officials announced Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"JusticeThe disregard for federal safety rules touched off an explosion that killed one worker at the plant and severely injured two others, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The criminal information charges KTX Limited and KTX Properties Inc., with negligently releasing hazardous air pollutants after a tank explosion at their chemical and petroleum processing facility located in Port Arthur, Texas, on March 31, 2011.<\/span><\/p>\n

The explosion killed one worker at the plant and severely injured two others.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe dishonest and outright failure to adhere to workplace standards and practices can lead to death and injury to American workers who deserve better, as this case tragically shows,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department\u2019s Environment and Natural Resources Division.\u00a0 \u201cThe Justice Department is committed to enforcing environmental and workplace safety laws that protect workers from this kind of egregious behavior and to help ensure it doesn\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, KTX Limited and KTX Properties Inc, authorized two contract workers to perform welding or \u201chot work\u201d on piping connected to a tank at their Port Arthur facility.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Before beginning the welding, the defendants falsified the \u201chot work\u201d permit issued to the workers and failed to properly drain, isolate and decontaminate the tank and connecting equipment as required by Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulations.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, the welding work ignited vapors causing the tank to explode and release hazardous air pollutants to the environment.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The failure to properly inspect and maintain the tank to industry standards, the exploding tank collapsed spilling burning product which severely injured two workers.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

A third worker was killed when the rails and ladder from the collapsing tank fell on his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEmployee safety is of paramount importance as there is no excuse for workers not returning to their families at the end of the day,\u201d said Regional Administrator Kelly Knighton for OSHA Region 6. \u201cResulting from an initial OSHA fatality investigation, I commend the Federal and State partners for holding accountable, to the fullest extent of the law, those employers that take shortcuts and endanger the safety and health of their workers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"U.S.The information also charges Crosby LP and Ramsey Properties LP with failing to monitor leaks of ground-level ozone or smog producing air pollutants at their chemical processing facility in Crosby, Texas, from 2008 until 2012.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The defendants also admitted that they falsified records and reports for these Title V permit requirements to EPA and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality certifying the facility was complying with the permit requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSafety inspections involving toxic or hazardous materials are mandatory and vital to the safety of the worker and the surrounding communities,\u201d said Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston for the Eastern District of Texas. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Adding, “Non-performance is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, and offenders will be prosecuted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The plea agreement requires the companies to pay a total of $3.3 million in criminal fines.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the companies will make a $200,000 community service payment to the Southern Environmental Enforcement Network or SEEN, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The payment will be used by SEEN for hazardous air release prevention and emergency response training to state and local environmental and law enforcement agencies, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen handled or stored improperly, chemicals can result in severe injuries or even death, so protecting communities from the harmful effects of hazardous chemicals is a priority for EPA,\u201d said Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Brooks of EPA\u2019s criminal enforcement program for Texas.\u00a0 \u201cThis case emphasizes the importance of having \u2013 and following \u2013 a plan to manage risks associated with storing hazardous chemicals, which help companies avoid accidents and enable local emergency responders to be better prepared.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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