Total to pay settlement over US refinery emissions 01/05/2007 00:00

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2007 (AFP) - French energy group Total has been slapped with a 2.9-million-dollar penalty by the US government for releasing "harmful emissions" from a Texas refinery, officials said Monday.

Aside from the penalty, Total has also agreed to spend 37 million dollars to upgrade its Port Arthur, Texas, refinery to clean up the plant's emissions.

"We are committed to enforcing the laws that protect the environment and public health, in an effort to continue bringing the refinery industry into compliance," said Matthew McKeown, acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's environment and natural resources division.

The settlement with Total's US unit was overseen by the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The government said Total's new measures would significantly cut emissions generated by flaring, during which byproduct-gas from the refining process is burned-off in a flaring device.

Copyright AFP

Subject: French news