Friday, October 1, 2010

Another slap on the wrist for big polluter BP

by DWG

Industrial serial killer BP knows well the benefits of lax regulation and laughable penalties for breaking the law. Yesterday, they received another wag of the finger for repeatedly endangering the health of thousands of Americans.

The crimes:

... two fires that occurred at the refinery on March 30, 2004 and July 28, 2005, and a leak that occurred on August 10, 2005. During the three incidents, each of which resulted in the surrounding Texas City community to shelter-in-place, thousands of pounds of flammable and toxic air pollutants were released. The settlement also resolves allegations that BP failed to identify all regulated hazardous air pollutants used at the refinery in plans submitted to EPA.

The punishment:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Justice Department announced today that BP Products North America Inc. has agreed to pay a $15 million penalty to resolve federal Clean Air Act violations at its Texas City, Texas petroleum refinery.



continued at Daily Kos....