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Formosa fined for air violations
BY CHARLYN FINN
Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas, of Calhoun County has been fined $121,443 by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for seven air violations documented in inspections, conducted between 2005-2006, and unauthorized emissions during the same period.
Jim Shepherd of Formosa said two of the events were vent stack test failures discovered by environmental test teams hired by Formosa to evaluate the stacks. One of the 40 stacks on the plant site failed the test in 2004 and one failed in 2005, Shepherd said.
The third event was a cracked site glass in 2005 which released air emissions, Shepherd said. The fourth event, also in 2005, was a ruptured disc that opened as it is designed to do when a system exceeds the design pressure for that operation. This ruptured disc is a pressure seal under a safety release valve that assures a system does not exceed safety parameters, Shepherd said.
“Also in 2005 there was a gasket failure on a valve in a VCM line,” Shepherd said. “This was the same year as the fire in Olefins 2, which also had reportable quantity emissions. In 2006 there was a leak in a heat exchanger that allowed VCM to enter a cooling water tank.”
Shepherd said it is standard practice at Formosa for air monitoring teams to go downwind to the fence line from any air release to test the air quality. Measuring the air at this point shows if there is any offsite impact so neighbors can be alerted if there is potential threat. “In the releases in this docket, air monitoring was non-detect at the fence line, meaning if there was not anything leaving the plant site that would harm area communities,” Shepherd said. “Preventive measures at the Formosa plant include the use of a copyright investigation procedure called Taproot that has step-by-step procedures to lead the researchers through to the base cause of the incident. This investigation procedure is used for environmental incidents and safety incidents. Eliminating the base cause prevents this type of incident from being repeated in the future.”
Of the fine total, $60,721 is being conditionally offset by Formosa’s completion of a supplemental environmental project to fund a City of Point Comfort wastewater treatment-plant repair project in Point Comfort.
TCEQ reported Formosa has already paid $60,722 of the administrative penalty.
TCEQ reported the payment of the administrative order completely resolve the violations set forth by the agreed order in this action. However, TCEQ is not constrained in any manner from requiring corrective actions or penalties for other violations that are not raised in this order.
In addition to the fine TCEQ orders Formosa to develop and implement a maintenance plan that would ensure to the extent practicable, early detection of equipment corrosion and ensure that all abatement equipment is maintained properly and in good working order. The plan has to be submitted within 30 days after the effective date of the order.
TCEQ cited Formosa for violations of the Texas Water Code and the Texas Health and Safety Code.
TCEQ said Formosa failed to prevent unauthorized emissions on Sept. 26, 2005; Sept. 28, 2005; Nov. 2, 2005; Nov. 11, 2005 and April 24, 2006.
TCEQ said Formosa failed to demonstrate compliance with applicable permit limits.
TCEQ said Formosa failed to submit an accurate final record of an emissions event no later than two weeks after the end of the event. TCEQ said Formosa failed to prevent the unauthorized release of air contaminants into the atmosphere. TCEQ said Formosa failed to maintain and operate the Vinyl Plant in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions.
TCEQ Wednesday approved penalties totaling $895,607 against 70 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations. Formosa’s fine was part of this.
Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: three agricultural, 22 air quality, two dry cleaner, six multi-media, three municipal solid waste, four municipal waste discharge, nine petroleum storage tank, eight public water system, two wastewater operator, one water quality.
BASF FINA Petrochemicals Limited Partnership in Jefferson County was fined $200,603. The fines were the result of nine air violations, documented routine inspections conducted in 2007-2008. Of that fine total, a $100,301 SEP amount will be contributed to the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission to conduct energy audits and weatherize homes of low-income residents in the West Port Arthur area.
Jim Shepherd of Formosa said two of the events were vent stack test failures discovered by environmental test teams hired by Formosa to evaluate the stacks. One of the 40 stacks on the plant site failed the test in 2004 and one failed in 2005, Shepherd said.
The third event was a cracked site glass in 2005 which released air emissions, Shepherd said. The fourth event, also in 2005, was a ruptured disc that opened as it is designed to do when a system exceeds the design pressure for that operation. This ruptured disc is a pressure seal under a safety release valve that assures a system does not exceed safety parameters, Shepherd said.
“Also in 2005 there was a gasket failure on a valve in a VCM line,” Shepherd said. “This was the same year as the fire in Olefins 2, which also had reportable quantity emissions. In 2006 there was a leak in a heat exchanger that allowed VCM to enter a cooling water tank.”
Shepherd said it is standard practice at Formosa for air monitoring teams to go downwind to the fence line from any air release to test the air quality. Measuring the air at this point shows if there is any offsite impact so neighbors can be alerted if there is potential threat. “In the releases in this docket, air monitoring was non-detect at the fence line, meaning if there was not anything leaving the plant site that would harm area communities,” Shepherd said. “Preventive measures at the Formosa plant include the use of a copyright investigation procedure called Taproot that has step-by-step procedures to lead the researchers through to the base cause of the incident. This investigation procedure is used for environmental incidents and safety incidents. Eliminating the base cause prevents this type of incident from being repeated in the future.”
Of the fine total, $60,721 is being conditionally offset by Formosa’s completion of a supplemental environmental project to fund a City of Point Comfort wastewater treatment-plant repair project in Point Comfort.
TCEQ reported Formosa has already paid $60,722 of the administrative penalty.
TCEQ reported the payment of the administrative order completely resolve the violations set forth by the agreed order in this action. However, TCEQ is not constrained in any manner from requiring corrective actions or penalties for other violations that are not raised in this order.
In addition to the fine TCEQ orders Formosa to develop and implement a maintenance plan that would ensure to the extent practicable, early detection of equipment corrosion and ensure that all abatement equipment is maintained properly and in good working order. The plan has to be submitted within 30 days after the effective date of the order.
TCEQ cited Formosa for violations of the Texas Water Code and the Texas Health and Safety Code.
TCEQ said Formosa failed to prevent unauthorized emissions on Sept. 26, 2005; Sept. 28, 2005; Nov. 2, 2005; Nov. 11, 2005 and April 24, 2006.
TCEQ said Formosa failed to demonstrate compliance with applicable permit limits.
TCEQ said Formosa failed to submit an accurate final record of an emissions event no later than two weeks after the end of the event. TCEQ said Formosa failed to prevent the unauthorized release of air contaminants into the atmosphere. TCEQ said Formosa failed to maintain and operate the Vinyl Plant in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions.
TCEQ Wednesday approved penalties totaling $895,607 against 70 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations. Formosa’s fine was part of this.
Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: three agricultural, 22 air quality, two dry cleaner, six multi-media, three municipal solid waste, four municipal waste discharge, nine petroleum storage tank, eight public water system, two wastewater operator, one water quality.
BASF FINA Petrochemicals Limited Partnership in Jefferson County was fined $200,603. The fines were the result of nine air violations, documented routine inspections conducted in 2007-2008. Of that fine total, a $100,301 SEP amount will be contributed to the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission to conduct energy audits and weatherize homes of low-income residents in the West Port Arthur area.
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