Petrochemical company fined more than $30 million for 2019 explosions near Houston

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — A Texas petrochemical company has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act and agreed to pay more than $30 million in connection with two explosions that injured workers and prompted the evacuation of thousands of people, the US Department of Justice said. Tuesday.

Explosions at a TPC Group plant in the coastal town of Port Neches the day before Thanksgiving 2019 prompted the evacuation of more than 50,000 people from the area, about 100 miles from Houston.

These explosions released more than 11 million pounds of extremely hazardous substances and caused more than $130 million in off-site property damage and other human health and environmental impacts, according to a DOJ press release.

“TPC Group sincerely regrets the damage and disruption caused by the November 2019 incident at our Port Neches facility,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. “Since the event, TPC Group has fully cooperated with all federal, state and local investigations.”

The company reached a plea deal with the government on Monday and agreed to pay more than $30 million in criminal fines and civil penalties. The plan also includes spending about $80 million to improve its risk management program and improve safety issues at TPC Group’s Port Neches and Houston facilities.

“Today’s guilty plea shows that companies that choose to prioritize profits over safeguards and compliance with the law will face serious consequences,” said United States Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. .

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