Jefferson County, TX – Pemco Services Incorporated was convicted in 2013 of violating Texas environmental regulations following a criminal investigation into its oil and gas waste landfarming operations. The conviction, announced by then-Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, marks a significant win for the Texas Environmental Task Force and underscores a growing commitment to prosecuting environmental crimes within the state.
The case originated from concerns surrounding Pemco’s landfarm facility in Jefferson County, where the company was found to have illegally applied over 1.3 million barrels of used drilling muds. Investigators determined the application exceeded permitted levels and contained elevated concentrations of potentially harmful drilling mud constituents. This improper disposal directly threatened, and ultimately *caused*, pollution in the surrounding environment, raising alarms amongst both regulatory agencies and local wildlife officials.
Investigation and Prosecution
The Travis County District Attorney’s Environmental Protection Unit spearheaded the prosecution, meticulously building a case based on evidence gathered by a collaborative team of state and federal agencies. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Environmental Crimes Unit, the TCEQ Environmental Crimes Unit, and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division all played crucial roles in gathering evidence and establishing the extent of Pemco’s violations. Lab analysis conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Laboratory further substantiated the claims of environmental contamination.
Legal Ramifications and Cleanup
Pemco Services pled guilty to violating Section 7145 of the Texas Water Code. As a result of the guilty plea, Judge Mike Lynch ordered the company to pay a substantial $1.35 million in fines to the state. Beyond the financial penalties, Pemco was also mandated to provide $14,534.31 in restitution to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to cover the costs of the crucial lab analysis. Notably, Pemco also voluntarily spent an additional $1.1 million on remediating the contaminated landfarm facility, which has since been permanently closed.
A Warning to Industry
District Attorney Lehmberg emphasized the importance of the conviction, stating that her office would “continue to aggressively prosecute those who harm our natural resources.” The case serves as a clear warning to companies operating in the oil and gas industry that environmental regulations will be strictly enforced, and violations will be met with significant legal and financial consequences.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Pemco Services Incorporated
- Crime: Illegal application of oil and gas waste at a landfarm facility, violating Texas Water Code Section 7145
- Location: Jefferson County, Texas
- Year of Conviction: 2013
- Fines: $1,350,000
- Restitution: $14,534.31 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Cleanup Costs (Voluntary): $1.1 million
- Agencies Involved: Travis County DA’s Office, EPA, TCEQ, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The successful prosecution of Pemco Services Incorporated underscores the effectiveness of interagency cooperation in combating environmental crime and protecting the state’s natural resources. GrimyTimes will continue to follow developments in environmental enforcement cases across the nation.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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