Citgo Convicted On Environmental Charges

Citgo Petroleum Corp. and a refining subsidiary were indicted last year on several environmental crime charges after an unannounced inspection at their plant located in Corpus Christi. The company was convicted on two of those charges — both related to operating enormous oil tanks without proper emissions equipment in place — on June 27.

At the heart of the indictments are the violations of the Clean Air Act, enacted in 1963 and including numerous amendments. More recently, the plant was found guilty of misdemeanors related to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and included in the original indictment; several migratory birds died after falling into the open tanks.

Texas is notorious for allowing big businesses break environmental laws for a profit. The road to win this fight was long and tedious for groups like TCEQ. This victory sends a message of hope for environmentalists and the rest of us, because all people benefit from a clean environment.