ExxonMobil will pay a $2.5 million civil penalty and upgrade eight plants along the Gulf Coast as part of a settlement with the U.S. government over violations of the Clean Air Act, according to an article from the Houston Chronicle. The settlement reportedly drew mixed reviews from some environmentalists who believe it is insufficient punishment by the Trump administration after more than a decade of pollution violations.
The director of Environment Texas, the group that sued Exxon, reportedly praised the deal as it forces Exxon to spend $300 million on plant upgrades, despite its “weak” civil penalties. The $300 million for pollution control technology is designated for plants in Baytown, Beaumont and Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Exxon will also spend $1 million to plant trees in Baytown.
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