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Texas Commission on Environmental QualityA state agency fined an Orange County plant for emissions from vent streams.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Policy fined the Chevron Phillips Chemical Orange Polyethylene Plant, located on 5309 FM Road 1006 in Orange, $13,200 Wednesday for failure to comply with vent stream exemption limits.
A vent stream is a gaseous stream with one or more air contaminants, such as a volatile organic compound, also known as VOC, that is contained by piping, ductwork and connections.
A number of chemicals are considered VOCs. Generally, they can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, cause difficulty breathing and can cause cancer.
"(The plant) failed to comply with the exemption limits for individual vent streams that emit continuous emissions," according to the commission. "Specifically, during a stack test conducted on Aug. 8, 2018, the respondent exceeded the total VOCs exemption limit of 1,000 parts per million by weight by 53.60 parts per million by weight for the Fluff Filter, Emissions Point Number 67, resulting in approximately 535.08 pounds of VOC."
In addition to being fined, Chevron Phillips Chemical Orange Polyethylene Plant completed corrective actions on May 30, 2019. The company conducted a stack test to demonstrate compliance with the exemption limits for the individual streams of the Fluff Filter, Emissions Point Number 67.
The facility was one of 11 regulated entities fined on Wednesday for a total of $233,210 by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for violations of state environmental regulations.
courtney.pedersen@beaumontenterprise.com
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