TCEQ approves fines totaling $923,329

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today approved penalties totaling $923,329 against 99 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations.

Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: 13 air quality, one industrial hazardous waste, one industrial waste discharge, two multi-media, five municipal waste discharge, five petroleum storage tank, three public water system, and one water right.

Default orders were issued for the following categories: 7 petroleum storage tank (one of which was a default and shutdown order) and one public water system.

Included in the total are fines of $207,378 against Dow Chemical Company in Brazoria County for five reporting violations and one violation for exceeding annual allowable emissions rates, stemming from an investigation on April 14, 2011. Of the total, $103, 689 will be used by the Houston-Galveston Clean Cities/Clean Vehicles Program to replace diesel buses with those that run on alternative fuel or clean diesel.

On May 8, the executive director approved 60 agreed orders each $7,500 or less, totaling $136,497.

The TCEQ's next agenda meeting is scheduled for June 13. Agenda items from all commission meetings and work session agendas can be viewed on the TCEQ website. The meeting is also webcast live for free, and archived meetings are available.