A Texas petrochemical company has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act and agreed to pay more than $30 million in damages in connection with two explosions that injured workers and forced the evacuation of thousands, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
An explosion at a TPC Group factory in the coastal city of Port Neches on the eve of Thanksgiving 2019 prompted the evacuation of more than 50,000 people from an area about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Houston.
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According to a Department of Justice news release, these explosions released more than 11 million pounds of extremely hazardous materials, caused more than $130 million in damage to off-site property, and caused other human health and It is said that there has been an impact on the environment.
A Texas petrochemical company has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act and agreed to pay more than $30 million in damages in connection with two explosions that injured workers and forced the evacuation of thousands. (Reuters)
“TPC Group sincerely regrets the damage and disruption caused by the incident at our Port Neches facility in November 2019,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. “Since the incident, TPC Group has fully cooperated with all federal, state, and local investigations.”
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The company entered into a plea deal with the government on Monday, agreeing to pay more than $30 million in criminal and civil penalties. The plan also includes spending approximately $80 million to improve risk management programs and address safety issues at TPC Group’s Port Neches and Houston facilities.
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that companies that choose to put profits above safety and compliance with the law will face severe consequences,” said Damien M. Diggs, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
