Industry News

Industry News

EPA Fines Texas Petroleum Company

The US Environmental Protection Agency has fined Houston-based Texas Petroleum Company for violating the Clean Water Act.

Texas Petroleum Company must pay a fee of $163,487 for violating federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations, the EPA said in a statement. The fine comes as a result of a federal inspection of oil production facilities in Terrebonne, Plaquemines, Lafourche, St. Charles and Iberia parishes in Louisiana.

The inspection found the company had failed to prepare and implement spill-prevention plans as required by federal regulations. SPCC regulations require onshore oil production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and responses to prevent oil discharges, the EPA said.

The fine also relates to Clean Water Act violations related to discharges of oil into wetland areas and unnamed canals in Terrebonne, Plaquemines and Iberia parishes, the agency said. Texas Petroleum Company did not return calls seeking comment on Thursday.

Published: 11 August 2011 by www.upstreamonline.com