The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) today approved penalties totaling $880,995 against 72 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations.

Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: ??One agricultural, 16 air quality, three dry cleaner, three field citations, five industrial waste discharge, two licensed irrigator, three multi-media, two municipal solid waste, 10 municipal waste discharge, one on site sewage facility installer, ten petroleum storage tank, nine public water system, and three water quality, and one water right.?? In addition, there were default orders issued for the following categories: one dry cleaner, one petroleum storage tank. Penalties were also assessed against a regulated entity following hearings at the State Office of Administrative Hearings for one petroleum storage tank violation.

Included in the total fine figure is a penalty, totaling $217,000, against INEOS USA, of Brazoria County. ??The fines are the result of air quality violations investigated in 2005 and 2006.?? Of the total, $108,500 will be used toward the Houston-Galveston Area Emission Reduction Credit Association Clean Cities/Clean Vehicles program.?? Also included in the fine total is a penalty of $154,275 against Gulf Chemical and Metallurgical, of Brazoria County.?? The fines are the result of air quality violations investigated on April 18, 2006.?? Of that total, $77,137 will be used toward the Houston-Galveston Area Emission Reduction Credit Association Clean Cities/Clean Vehicles program.

The TCEQ's next agenda meeting is scheduled for January 30. Agenda items from all commission meetings and work session agendas can be viewed on the TCEQ Web site at www.tceq.state.tx.us. The meeting is also webcast live for free, and archived meetings are available, at www.texasadmin.com/cgi-bin/tnrcc.cgi.

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