On Tuesday, a federal judge in Houston, Texas cut the fine sanctioned for ExxonMobil Corp. for the pollution from its biggest US crude oil refinery.
US District Judge David Hittner cut the fine to USD14.25 million for the pollution for Exxon’s Baytown, Texas, refinery and chemical plant, from the 2017’s decision of a USD19.95 million penalty. The cut was USD5.7 million.
The new penalty was based on the finding of 3,651 days of violations and rejection of an “Act of God” defense by Exxon for pollution during 2008’s Hurricane Ike.
Exxon is proved responsible for the pollution from the complex for eight years, between 2005 and 2013. It was alleged in a lawsuit initially filed in 2010 under the US Clean Air Act by the Sierra Club and Environment Texas. The act enables citizens to sue when regulators have failed to stop pollution.
Prior to the newest decision, Judge Hittner was ordered by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to determine the violations specifically caused harm to members of the organizations living near Exxon’s Baytown operations under the act. The 5th court also threw out the 2017 penalty.
Regarding the newest penalty, Exxon said that it would consider the next step while the head of Environment Texas called on Exxon to accept the latest ruling.
Tags: AlwaysFree,Americas,Bio/Renewables,Crude Oil,English,US
Published on March 4, 2021 9:46 AM (GMT+8)Last Updated on March 4, 2021 9:46 AM (GMT+8)
