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User:NMS Bill/Koch Industries/Environmental and safety record

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Environmental and safety record

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As a large industrial company, Koch Industries' subsidiaries are regulated by and cooperate with many local, state and federal agencies around the globe. Each Koch company has staff focused on using resources more efficiently and protecting workers and individuals' health and safety.[1] Koch companies have addressed environmental incidents over the years and paid fines associated with them.

Recognition

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In 2005, Koch's Flint Hills Resources refinery was recognized by the EPA's Clean Air Awards program for reducing air emissions by 50 percent while expanding operations.[2] Koch Industries' headquarters in Wichita has been certified for meeting the Energy Star standards for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. As of 2010 it is the only Wichita office building to be so recognized.[3][4] A Tulsa, Oklahoma site of the Koch-owned John Zink Company site was part of the EPA's National Environmental Performance Track program from 2003 until 2009 when the program was suspended.[5][6]

According to Koch Industries, more than 100 of its sites are recognized as STAR sites in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs.[7]

Koch's Matador Ranch in Texas earned the Lone Star Land Steward award for outstanding natural resource management in 2010.[8] The Montana ranch has earned several environmental stewardship awards, including the EPA Regional Administrator's award. [9]

Fines

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In March 1999, a Koch subsidiary pleaded guilty to charges that it had negligently allowed aviation fuel to leak into waters near the Mississippi River from its refinery in Rosemount, Minnesota, and that it had illegally dumped a million gallons of high-ammonia wastewater onto the ground and into the Mississippi River.[10]

In January 2000, Koch Industries subsidiary, Koch Pipeline, agreed to a $35 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and the State of Texas. This settlement, including a $30 million civil fine, was incurred for the firm's multiple oil spills in Texas and five other states going back to 1990.[11] The spills resulted in more than three million gallons of crude oil leaking into ponds, lakes, streams and coastal waters.[12]

In 2001, the company reached two settlements with the government. In April, the company reached a $20 million settlement in exchange for admitting to covering up environmental violations at its refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas.[13][14] That May, Koch Industries paid $25 million to the federal government to settle a federal lawsuit that found the company had improperly taken more oil than it had paid for from federal and Indian land.[15][16]

In 2009, Koch subsidiary Invista agreed to pay a $1.7 million civil penalty and spend up to $500 million to correct self-reported environmental violations at its facilities in seven states.[17][18] Prior to the settlement, the company had disclosed to the EPA more than 680 violations after auditing 12 facilities acquired from DuPont in 2004.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ "Environment, Health & Safety". kochind.com. Koch Industries. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  2. ^ Jessica Harper (18 November 2009). "Flint Hills is coming out of murky waters". Dakota County Tribune.
  3. ^ "Koch Industries Inc., Earns Prestigious Energy Star for Efficiencies at Wichita Complex" (Press release). Koch Industries. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
  4. ^ "ENERGY STAR Labeled Offices in Kansas". energystar.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Process and Pollution Control". kochenergy.com. Koch Industries. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Performance Track Final Progress Report" (PDF). epa.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Environment Health & Safety". kochind.com. Koch Industries. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. ^ "Lone Star Land Steward Awards Winners Announced" (Press release). Texas Parks & Wildlife. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  9. ^ "EPA Honors Koch Ranch for Environmental Excellence; Award is Ranch's Fourth Major Environmental Honor in 1999" (Press release). Koch Industries. 7 June 1999. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  10. ^ "Koch Petroleum Group Sentenced for Minnesota Pollution" (Press release). Environmnetal Protection Agency. 9 March 2000. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  11. ^ "Koch Agrees to $35 Million Settlement in Two Environmental Cases". Safety Online. 17 January 2000.
  12. ^ "Koch Industries to Pay Record Fine for Oil Spills in Six States" (Press release). Environmnetal Protection Agency. 13 January 2000. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  13. ^ "Koch Pleads Guilty to Covering up Environmental Violations at Texas Oil Refinery". justice.gov. U.S. Department of Justice. 9 April 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  14. ^ Don Richards (22 January 2001). "DOJ Reduces Indictments Against Koch Industries". ICIS.
  15. ^ CBS (27 November 2000). "Blood and Oil". 60 Minutes.
  16. ^ Russell Ray (20 June 2001). "Tribe Likely to Get Piece of Settlement in Osage County, Okla., Oil Squabble". Tulsa World.
  17. ^ "United States Announces Largest Settlement Under Environmental Protection Agency's Audit Policy" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
  18. ^ "United States Announces Largest Settlement Under Environmental Protection Agency's Audit Policy" (Press release). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
  19. ^ Levi Wolters (13 April 2009). "Invista to correct EPA violations". Wichita Business Journal.
  20. ^ "Invista, Agencies File Agreement" (Press release). Invista. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
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