Texas Reaches $12.6M Settlement with TPC Group Over 2019 Plant Explosions

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Friday that the state has reached a $12.6 million settlement with TPC Group for environmental violations related to the catastrophic November 2019 explosions at the company's Port Neches chemical facility.

The agreement mandates that TPC Group repair or replace defective equipment and pay penalties for exceeding emissions limits. The 2019 explosion, which took place on the day before Thanksgiving, resulted in the evacuation of over 50,000 residents and the discharge of over 11 million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the air. This incident caused $130 million in offsite property damage and significant harm to human health and the environment.

TPC Group declared its dedication to compliance in a statement, emphasizing its endeavors to resolve "operational challenges" at the facility. According to Vice President Sara Cronin, the settlement is indicative of the company's commitment to being a responsible community member and a leader in the production of petrochemicals.

The company, which declared bankruptcy in 2022, has encountered an increasing number of penalties, such as a $150 million settlement in August for environmental violations and a guilty plea in May for Clean Air Act violations. 

In 2020, Texas filed a lawsuit against TPC Group, alleging that the company had repeatedly violated emissions laws and operated under hazardous conditions between 2018 and 2019.

‍