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September 18, 2008
CITGO Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Clean Water Act in Louisiana
In the largest fine ever assessed for a criminal misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act, CITGO plead guilty yesterday and was fined $13 million for the negligent discharge of pollutants into two rivers in Louisiana.
The Justice Department had brought the charges in U.S. District Court in Lake Charles,LA against the CITGO petroleum refinery in Sulphur,LA for negligently failing to maintain storm water tanks and failing to maintain adequate storm water storage, resulting in approximately 53,000 barrels of oil being discharged into the Indian Marais and Calcasieu Rivers following a heavy rain storm in 2006.
"Companies cannot make economic choices that sacrifice the environment," said Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Sound business decisions must factor in the safeguard of the environment or companies will face consequences that in the long run are more detrimental to their bottom line."
"The protection of the environment is among our highest priorities," said Donald W. Washington, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. "We will not allow corporations or their employees to escape liability for failing to do their part in preventing harm to the environment. We fully intend to use all the tools at our disposal, including criminal prosecution, to punish those who pollute our air and water."
"CITGO failed to properly maintain and operate equipment designed to prevent oil spills," said Granta Y. Nakayama, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Companies that harm the environment and their community as a result of their own negligence will be prosecuted and pay a heavy price," as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at September 18, 2008 11:42 AM
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