PORT NECHES, Texas — The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the TPC Group because of the November explosions in Port Neches.
The state's top prosecutor is acting on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The lawsuit, filed Friday, Feb. 21, claims that TPC Group violated the Texas Clean Air Act and the Texas Water Code. The lawsuit also alleges that TPC Group caused numerous violations of TCEQ's air quality program from January 2018 to September 2019.
TCEQ Executive Director Toby Baker said, "It is absolutely crucial that entities like TPC Group are held responsible not only for the destructive environmental pollution they cause, but also for their impact on human health."
State Representative Dade Phelan applauded the TCEQ and the Texas Attorney General.
"This should help the state learn what caused the explosions and how to prevent them in the future," Phelan said.
TPC Group responded with an official statement Friday evening.
"We have seen that the AG has filed a petition," TPC spokesperson Sara Cronin said in an email. "We remain focused on safely bringing this event to an end, minimizing impact to the environment while preserving the safety of the community.
"We have been working in cooperation with the relevant agencies and will continue to do so."
News release from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality...
On behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Attorney General today filed a lawsuit against TPC Group, Inc. and TPC Group, LLC for violations of the Texas Clean Air Act and the Texas Water Code, pertaining to the Nov. 27, 2019 explosion at its Port Neches plant. The lawsuit also includes claims that TPC Group caused numerous violations of TCEQ’s air quality program from January 2018 through September 2019.
“I appreciate the Attorney General’s action today,” said TCEQ Executive Director Toby Baker. “It is absolutely crucial that entities like TPC Group are held responsible not only for the destructive environmental pollution they cause, but also for their impact on human health.”
“I want to thank the TCEQ and the Attorney General for acting in the best interest of all Southeast Texans impacted by the Port Neches explosion,” said Representative Dade Phelan. “Through this suit, the state can learn what caused the incident, how to prevent such occurrences in the future and adequately penalize all violations.”
The State of Texas requests that the court grant the following relief as allowed by law: injunctive relief, civil penalties, reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and investigative costs.