The Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras is looking to sell its Pasadena facility. The sale price is reportedly less than $200 million. The purchase price was $1.2 billion, paid in two installments in 2006 and 2012. The high purchase price spurred an investigation by federal prosecutors under the suspicion that bribes were included as part [...]
Pasadena Refining System System Inc. finds itself repeatedly in the spotlight during the past two weeks. Shortly after Environment Texas and the Sierra Club’s Lone Star chapter filed a lawsuit against the plant alleging pollution violations under the Clean Air Act, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan filed an enforcement action in a state district court. The enforcement [...]
A Pasadena refinery faces a lawsuit alleging pollution violations under the Clean Air Act. Environment Texas and the Sierra Club's Lone Star chapter filed the suit, claiming repeated and ongoing violations of pollution limits by the refinery operated by Pasadena Refining System Inc (PRSI). PRSI is a subsidiary of Brazil's national oil company, Petrobras. In a [...]
In 2014, a methyl mercaptan gas release killed three operators and a shift supervisor at the DuPont facility in La Porte. The company wound up on OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program as a result. Now, a state legislator has introduced a bill that would establish a system of alerts that could assist the public during such [...]
Jacobs Field Services North American Inc. filed a petition for the U. S. Supreme Court to review an OSHA case against the chemical plant contractor. The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission found that Jacobs committed two serious violations related to a March 2013 accident at a chemical plant in La Porte that burned a Jacobs technician. [...]
Upcoming maintenance at Pasadena Refining Systems could release massive quantities of air pollution. Plant officials informed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that the first few days of an estimated 50 day turnaround could result in the release of a ton of fine particulate matter, on top of nearly as much sulfur dioxide. An estimated 15 [...]
Gulbrandsen Technologies finds itself repeatedly under scrutiny with Harris County. Multiple mishaps have proven enough to touch off a lawsuit. Last month the the Harris County Attorney's Office filed a legal claim asking for stiff civil penalties and an injunction that would force Gulbrandsen Technologies to implement a site-specific Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, decommission [...]
Environmental groups announced their plan to sue the Pasadena refinery over allegations the location consistently released illegal levels of particulate matter. Environment Texas and Sierra Club said in a statement they intend to file a suit within the 60-day grace period against Pasadena Refining System, Inc. or PRSI which is owned by Petrobras, the state-controlled [...]
Royal Dutch Shell PLC is preparing to shut down a catalytic reforming unit at its Deer Park refinery to make repairs on a leaky valve. The refinery said a leaky valve sprung Wednesday November 30 in its catalytic reforming unit 3, causing emissions that continued into Thursday, according to a statement made to the Texas Commission on [...]
The Pasadena Refinery System plant released thousands of pounds of toxins the morning of November 3, during a seven-hour power outage. The toxic release marks the latest event at the refinery, the same plant where a March explosion injured one worker. Officials worry more about this refinery than others in the area, as it has a [...]