EPA v. Formosa Plastics-TX LA-LDAR Multi Media Consent Decree (R6 Lead)-2010

Case summary

Consent Decree-In its complaint, the United States alleged that Defendants violated Clean Air Act (``CAA'') provisions regulating the leaks of air pollutants from chemical manufacturing equipment and emissions of vinyl chloride, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (``RCRA'') provisions governing hazardous waste management, and Clean Water Act (``CWA'') wastewater discharge limits. The United States also alleges that Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas violated CAA provisions regulating benzene waste operations and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (``EPCRA'') toxic release inventory reporting obligations. The alleged violations occurred at co-located facilities in Point Comfort, Texas, owned and operated by Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas and Formosa Hydrocarbons Company, Inc., and a facility located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that is owned and operated by Formosa Plastics Corporation, Louisiana. First Amendment to Consent Decree-WHEREAS, in 2011, pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Consent Decree, FPC TX notified EPA that FPC TX had failed to include in its LDAR program pieces of equipment from a section of the hydrocarbons process unit that should have been included under applicable regulations.

Defendants (4)

• Formosa Plastic Corp.Named in complaint
• Formosa Hydrocarbons CorpNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Formosa Plastics Corp, LouisianaNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Formosa Plastics Corp, TexasNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (38)

• FORMOSA PLASTICS CORP TEXAS

  201 FORMOSA DRIVE, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA PLASTICS LOUISIANA

  301 GULF STATES UTILITIES RD, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70805

  Registry ID: 110000597444

• FORMOSA PLASTICS CORP LOUISIANA

  N END OF GULF STATES RD, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70805

  Registry ID: 110000597444

• FORMOSA POINT COMFORT PLANT

  201 FORMOSA DRIVE, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA POINT COMFORT PLANT

  201 FORMOSA DR, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA POINT COMFORT PLANT

  201 FORMOSA DR, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• POINT COMFORT CRYOGENIC GAS PLANT

  103 FANNIN RD, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA PLASTICS CORPORATION, TEXAS

  201 FORMOSA DRIVE, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA POINT COMFORT PLANT

  201 FORMOSA DRIVE, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA PLASTICS CORP LOUISIANA

  N END OF GULF STATES RD, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70805

  Registry ID: 110000597444

• FORMOSA PLASTICS CORP TEXAS

  201 FORMOSA DRIVE, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA PLASTICS CORP LOUISIANA

  N END OF GULF STATES RD, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70805

  Registry ID: 110000597444

• POINT COMFORT CRYOGENIC GAS PLANT

  103 FANNIN RD, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA POINT COMFORT PLANT

  201 FORMOSA DR, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• FORMOSA POINT COMFORT PLANT

  201 FORMOSA DR, POINT COMFORT, TX, 77978

  Registry ID: 110018925957

• …and 23 more

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste
• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards
• EPCRA 313 — Toxic Chemical Release Reporting (TRI)
• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants
• CAA 112D — MACT Standards

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• Formosa Plastics-TX LA-LDAR Multi Media Consent Decree-1st Amend (R6 Lead)entered 2013-03-13

  Primary law: CAA

• Formosa Plastics-TX LA-LDAR Multi Media Consent Decree (R6 Lead)-2010entered 2010-02-03

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $2,800,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2006-09-28Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2006-09-28Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2009-09-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 2013-01-02Final Order Lodged
• 2013-03-13Final Order Entered