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COMPANY’S ILLEGAL DISCHARGE ALONG HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL
Release Date: 08/19/99
Contact Information:
- United States Communications, Education,
Environmental Protection And Media Relations
Agency (1703)
Press Advisory
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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1999
COMPANY’S ILLEGAL DISCHARGE ALONG HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL
FKP Inc., a company that owns and operates a gypsum pile along the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas, pleaded guilty on Aug. 16, in U.S. District Court in Houston to violating the Clean Water Act. FKP maintains a system of evaporation ponds, containment ponds and a moat which are used to manage leachate and storm water from the gypsum pile. Until December 1997, process wastewater from an adjacent chemical company was also discharged to FKP’s gypsum pile and evaporation ponds. FKP’s permit with the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission did not allow for any wastewater discharges to the Ship Channel. In January 1998, FKP discharged a total of more than 6.6 million gallons of wastewater containing ammonia, nitrogen, copper, nickel, fluoride, phosphorous and sulfate into the channel on two separate occasions. In sufficient concentrations, these chemicals are harmful to fish and aquatic life, and can cause serious illnesses to people who ingest them. When sentenced, FKP faces a maximum fine of $200,000 and up to five years probation. In addition, the plea agreement requires FKP to pay $75,000 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to be used to investigate and prosecute environmental law violations involving the Ship Channel. FKP has also installed an on-site wastewater pretreatment system at its Pasadena facility. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
R-100 ###
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