Pelican Refining forced to pay $2 million toward environmental projects

Posted: Feb 6, 2012 6:05 PM by Tonya LaCoste
Updated: Feb 6, 2012 6:07 PM

Pelican Refining Company is forced to pay $2 million toward environmental projects for violating environmental laws. During a news conference this afternoon, U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley announced the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation received $1 million, the Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit received $500,000 and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality received $500,000.

U.S. District Judge Richard Haik sentenced Pelican on Dec. 15, 2011 and ordered the company to pay a $12 million penalty, which included a $10 million criminal fee and $2 million in community service payments. The criminal fine is the largest ever in the state for violations of the Clean Air Act, Finley said. Pelican is prohibited from operating unless it implements an environmental compliance plan. The plan must include independent quarterly audits by an outside firm and oversight by a court appointed monitor. "This case should send a message to anyone who threatens Louisiana's precious environment that there are serious consequences for failing to adhere to the environmental laws," Finley said.

Pelican vice-president Byron Hamilton oversaw operations of the Lake Charles refinery from his office in Houston and pleaded guilty on July 6, 2011 to negligently placing people in imminent danger of death and serious bodily injury. The facility's former asphalt facilities manager, Mike LeBleu, pleaded guilty to a negligent endangerment charge on Oct. 31, 2011.