The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) today approved penalties totaling $900,081 against 70 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations. Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: 1 agricultural, 15 air quality, two dry cleaner, two Edwards Aquifer, three field citations, one industrial hazardous waste, one industrial waste discharge, three licensed irrigators, two multi-media, four municipal solid waste, seven municipal waste discharge, one on-site sewage, five petroleum storage tank, and 11 public water system, one sludge and four water quality. In addition, there were default orders as follows: two licensed irrigators, three petroleum storage tank, and one municipal solid waste.

Included in the total is a fine of $325,120 against ConocoPhillips Company for air violations at the Sweeney refinery in Brazoria County. The order indicates the company failed to prevent and/or properly report unauthorized emissions of numerous agents during eight emissions events and one failed stack test in June, September, October, November and December of 2006 and January, 2007. Of the total fine, $152,560 will be used to fund retrofitting of school buses with equipment designed to reduce particulate matter pollution through the Clean Cities/Clean Vehicles program in Brazoria County.

The TCEQ's next agenda meeting is scheduled for March 19. Agenda items from all commission meetings and work sessions can be viewed at the TCEQ Web site. The meeting is also webcast live for free, and archived meetings are available, at www.texasadmin.com/cgi-bin/tnrcc.cgi.