Environment Texas Citizen Lobby, Inc. v. ExxonMobil Corp.
ENVIRONMENT TEXAS CITIZEN LOBBY, INC. and Sierra Club v. EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, and ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company
Attorneys
Heather Govern, Joshua R. Kratka, Boston, MA, David A. Nicholas, Attorney at Law, Newton, MA, Philip Harlan Hilder, Hilder & Associates, P.C., Houston, TX, for Plaintiffs., Eric J.R. Nichols, Beck- Redden LLP, Keith A. Courtney, Winstead PC, Austin, TX, Fields Alexander, Bryon A. Rice, William Bradley Coffey, Beck Redden LLP, Houston, TX, for Defendants.
Full Opinion (html_with_citations)
FINDINGS OF FACT & CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
ā On February 10, 2014, this Court commenced a non-jury trial in the above-entitled matter. During the course of- the thirteen-day proceeding, the Court received evidence and heard sworn testimony.
I. BACKGROUND
On December 13, 2010, Plaintiffs Environment Texas Citizen Lobby, Inc. (āEnvironment Texasā) and Sierra Club (āSierra Clubā) (collectively, āPlaintiffsā) brought suit under the citizen suit provision of the federal Clean Air Act (the āCAAā), 42 U.S.C. § 7604, against Defendants Exxon-Mobil Corporation, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, and ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company (collectively, āExxonā). The case concerns Exxonās operation of a refinery, olefins plant, and chemical plant located in Baytown, Texas (the āComplexā), which is a suburb of Houston and within Harris County. Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment, penalties,
II. FINDINGS OF FACT
The following facts have been established by a preponderance of the evidence:
A. Exxon and the Complex
1. ExxonMobil Chemical Company and ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Compa
2.Exxon owns and operates the Complex, which consists of a refinery, olefins plant, and chemical plant.
3. The Complex is located in Baytown, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston. The nearby area in which the Complex operates is populated with numerous other refineries, petrochemical plants, and industrial facilities.
B. Title v. Permits
4. The Complex is governed, in part, by operating permits issued by. the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the āTCEQā) pursuant to Title V of the CAA.
5.Exxon documents noncompliance and indications of noncompliance with its Title V permits in three ways.
D. Investigation, Enforcement, and Corrective Actions
6. The TCEQ investigates each reportable emissions event.
7. In addition to the TCEQās investigation, for each of the Reportable Events, Exxon conducted an extensive internal investigation, evaluated the root cause of the event, and implemented corrective actions to try to prevent recurrence.
8. After investigating, the TCEQ assessed $1,146,132 in penalties against Exxon for some of the Events and Deviations.
9. Moreover, after investigating, the TCEQ elected not to pursue enforcement on 97 Reportable Events because the TCEQ determined the- applicable affirmative defense criteria were met.
10. The distinction the TCEQ makes between reportable emissions events and recordable emissions events demonstrates the agencyās belief that emissions from recordable emissions events are less serious and less potentially harmful to human health than emissions from reportable emissions events.
11. Of the 901 Deviations, 45% involved no emissions whatsoever.
E. Agreed Enforcement Order
12. On February 22, 2012, Exxon and the TCEQ agreed on an enforcement order regarding the Complex (the āAgreed Orderā).
a.Plant Automation Venture. Install computer applications to improve real-time monitoring, identification, diagnostics and online guidance/management of .operations. The project is intended to provide early identification of potential events and/or instrumentation abnormalities, allowing proactive response.
b. Fuels North Flare System Monitoring/Minimization- Additional instrumentation, including monitoring probes and on-line analyzers are intended to improve the identification and characterization of flaring events. The development of flare minimization practices ... are intended to reduce loads on the flare system.
c. BOP/BOPX Recovery Unit Simulators. Develop, implement and use high-fidelity process training simulators ... intended to improve operator training and competency, resulting in reduced frequency and severity of emissions events.
d. Enhanced Fugitive Emissions Monitoring. ... The program will use infrared imaging technology to locate potential VOC and HRVOC leaks....60
The Agreed Order states these projects āwill reduce emissions at the Baytown Complex, including emissions from emissions events ....ā
F. Efforts to Improve Environmental Performance and Compliance
13.ā The Complex has a governing philosophy that all employees work toward plant reliability and environmental compliance.
14. The Complex employs a wide variety of emissions-reduction equipment such as wet gas scrubbers, selective catalytic reduction, amine treating towers, flares, flare gas recovery systems, external floating roof tanks, sulfur recovery units, a regenerative thermal oxidizer, and more than one hundred low nitrogen oxide (āNOxā) burners; the Complex also employs emissions-detection equipment such as continuous emissions monitoring systems and forward-looking infrared cameras.
15. Both the TCEQ and the EPA recognize it is not possible to operate any facility ā especially one as complex as the Complex ā in a manner that eliminates all
G. Improvement
16.In the Agreed Order, the TCEQ recognized the Complexās historical reductions in emissions when making the following finding of fact:
The annual emissions inventory reports that ExxonMobil has submitted for the Baytown Complex under 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 101.10 reflect a positive trend of reductions in actual emissions, including unauthorized emissions associated with emissions events and scheduled MSS activities, from Baytown Complex. From 2000 to 2010, ExxonMobil has reported a 60 percent reduction in aggregate emissions of VOC, HRVOC, CO, S02 and NOx from the Baytown Complex. Over that same time period, reported emissions of VOC from the Baytown Complex have dropped by 44 percent, reported emissions of CO have dropped by 76, and reported emissions of NOx have dropped by 63 percent.78
Likewise, evidence in this case shows the total amount of emissions at the Complex generally declined year-to-year over the years at issue in the case.
17. In addition, each year at issue, total emissions were far below the annual emissions limits.
H. Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs ā Members
18. Environment Texas is a non-profit corporation with a purpose āto engage in activities, including public education, re
19. First, Diane Aguirre Dominguez is a member of Environment Texas and Sierra Club.
20. Second, Marilyn Kingman is a member of Sierra Club.
21. Third, Richard Shae Cottar is a member of Sierra Club.
22.Fourth, Sharon Sprayberry is a member of Sierra Club.
I. Baytown Residents Called by Exxon
23. Exxon called three residents of the Baytown community to testify. First was Fred Aguilar, who has lived approximately eight blocks from the Complex for 35 years.
24. Second was Billy Barnett, who has lived across the street from the Complex for 17 years and in close proximity to the Complex for a total of 37 years.
25. Third, Gordon Miles has lived very close to the Complex for 28 years.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
A. Standing
1. An organization āhas standing to bring suit on behalf of its members when: (1) its members would otherwise have standing to sue in their own right; (2) the interests it seeks to protect are germane to the organizationās purpose; and (3) neither the claim asserted nor the relief requested requires the participation of individual members.ā Texans United for a Safe Econ. Educ. Fund v. Crown Cent. Petroleum Corp., 207 F.3d 789, 792 (5th Cir.2000). Exxon does not contest the second and third requirements, and the Court finds these requirements are met. At issue is the first requirement.
2. In order for a member to have standing to sue in his or her own right, (1) he or she must have suffered an actual or threatened injury, (2) that is fairly traceable to the' defendantās action, and (3) the injury must likely be redressed if the plaintiff prevails in the lawsuit. Id. The plaintiff has the burden to prove these requirements by the preponderance of the evidence. Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 561, 112 S.Ct. 2130, 119 L.Ed.2d 351 (1992); Envtl. Conservation Org. v. City of Dallas, No. 3-03-CV-2951-BD, 2005 WL 1771289, at *4 n. 2 (N.D.Tex. July 26, 2005). Each requirement is addressed in turn.
a. Injury-in-Fact
3. To satisfy the injury-in-fact requirement, the plaintiff'must prove injury to himself or herself, not injury to the environment. Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Envtl. Sens. (TOC), Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 181, 120 S.Ct. 693, 145 L.Ed.2d 610 (2000). There is a ālow threshold for sufficiency of injuryā to confer standing. Save Our Cmty. v. EPA, 971 F.2d 1155, 1161 (5th Cir.1992). For an environmental plaintiff, effect to his or her recreational or aesthetic interests constitutes injury-in-fact. Laidlaw, 528 U.S. at 183, 120 S.Ct. 693. Also, ābreathing and smelling polluted air is sufficient to demonstrate injury-in-fact and thus confer standing under the CAA.ā Texans United, 207 F.3d at 792; Concerned Citizens Around Murphy v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., 686 F.Supp.2d 663, 670-71 (E.D.La.2010).
4. In this case, four members of either Environment Texas or Sierra Club
b. Traceability
5. So long as there is a fairly traceable connection between a plaintiffs injury and the defendantās violation, the traceability requirement of standing is satisfied. Comer v. Murphy Oil USA, 585 F.3d 855, 864 (5th Cir.2009). To confer standing, the plaintiffs injury does not have to be linked to exact dates that the defendantās violations occurred, and the plaintiff does not have to āshow to a scientific certainty that defendantās [emissions], and defendantās [emissions] alone, caused the precise harm suffered by the plaintiffs.ā Texans United, 207 F.3d at 793; Save Our Cmty., 971 F.2d at 1161 (internal quotation marks omitted); see Tex. Campaign for the Envāt v. Lower Colo. River Auth., No. H-11-791, 2012 WL 1067211, at *4-5 (S.D.Tex. Mar. 28, 2012) (Miller, J.). Rather, circumstantial evidence of traceability suffices, such as observation of smoke coming from the defendantās plant while at the same time smelling odors, and expert evidence that on certain days when the defendantās violations occurred, excess emissions were detectable in the plaintiffs neighborhood. Texans United, 207 F.3d at 793.
6. Even though Plaintiffsā membersā injuries do not have to be linked to exact dates that the Events and Deviations occurred, Plaintiffsā members correlated some of the experiences described supra, such as odor and noise, to five Events or Deviations.
c. Redressability
7. A plaintiff must prove re-dressability āfor each form of relief sought.ā Laidlaw, 528 U.S. at 185, 120 S.Ct. 693. Relief that prevents or deters violations from reoccurring satisfies the redressability requirement. Id. at 185-86, 120 S.Ct. 693. Here, Plaintiffs request penalties for the Events and Deviations, an injunction enjoining Exxon from violating the CAA, a special master to monitor compliance with the injunctive relief, and a declaratory judgment that Exxon violated its Title V permits. Civil penalties in a CAA citizen suit satisfy the redressability requirement of standing because they deter future violations. Texans United, 207 F.3d at 794; Laidlaw, 528 U.S. at 185-86, 120 S.Ct. 693.
8. Because the injury-in-fact, traceability, and redressability requirements are satisfied, Plaintiffsā members have standing to sue in their own right, and Plaintiffs have standing.
B. Actionability
9. It is undisputed Exxon violated some emission standards or limitations under the CAA.
(1) āto have violatedā: repeated violation of the same emission standard or limitation before the complaint was filed; or
(2) āto be in violationā:
(a) violation of the same emission standard or limitation both before and after the complaint was filed; or
(b) continuing likelihood of recurrence:
(i) likelihood of recurring violations of the same parameter; or
(ii) likelihood that the same inadequately corrected source of trouble will cause recurring violations of one or more different parameters.
See 42 U.S.C. § 7604(a)(1); Carr, 931 F.2d at 1062; Texaco Ref, 2 F.3d at 499; see also Envāt Tex. Citizen Lobby, Inc. v. ExxonMobil Corp., No. H-10-4969, ECF No. 126 at 10-13 (S.D.Tex. Apr. 3, 2013) (Smith, Mag.) (memorandum and recommendation on motion for summary judgment in this case), adopted by ECF No. 135 (S.D.Tex. May 2, 2013) (Hittner, J.) (order adopting the memorandum and recommendation). The definition of āemission standard or limitationā includes any āstandard,ā ālimitation,ā āschedule,ā āterm,ā or āconditionā in a Title V permit. 42 U.S.C. § 7604(f)(4).
10. Here, Plaintiffs claim Exxon either (1) repeatedly violated the same emission standards or limitations in its Title V permits before the complaint was filed, or (2)(a) violated the same emission standards or limitations in its Title V permits both before and after the complaint was filed. Plaintiffs do not claim satisfaction of the third method of proving actionability: method (2)(b) continuing likelihood of recurrence.
12. As evidentiary support for the ac-tionability of the alleged violations in each count of their complaint, Plaintiffs cite to the stipulated spreadsheets of Events and Deviations;
a. Count I
13. Count I alleges Exxon violated the provision of the Complexās Title V permit that prohibits emissions from upset events. Exxon disputes that these events constitute violations of an emissions standard or limitation. As to specific standards or limitations violated, Plaintiffsā contentions have been inconsistent. In
14. The evidentiary support cited to by Plaintiffs for Count I is Plaintiffsā Exhibits 1A and IB (stipulated spreadsheets), 587 and 588 (Plaintiffsā corresponding spreadsheets), and 9 (tallied table). Violation of the aforementioned conditions is not corroborated by these spreadsheets. These spreadsheets reference permit 18287, but the spreadsheets do not appear to reference any specific conditions of permit 18287 or any other permit, such as general conditions 8 or 15, or special conditions 38 and 39.
15. Plaintiffs do not contend every upset event is actionable because the condition that does not authorize upset emissions was repeatedly violated. Therefore, the Court need not address whether the sole fact that there are allegedly multiple upset ā events makes those upset events actionable under the CAA or whether the condition referencing upset emissions constitutes a standard or limitation under the CAA. Rather, Plaintiffs base the actiona-bility of upset events under Count I on alleged repetition of violations of conditions or limitations that apply to separate air contaminants.
17. For all of these reasons, Plaintiffs have not met their burden to prove either repeated violation pre-complaint or violation both before and after the complaint of the same emission standard or limitation under Count I.
b. Count II
18. Count II alleges Exxon violated hourly emission limits. Count II is similar to Count I, except Count II is divided by different permits. The Court will consider each permit in turn.
i. Refinery Flexible Permit 18287
19. Under Count II/RefĆnery Flexible Permit 18287, Plaintiffs allege āviolations of general conditions 8 and 15, special condition 1, and MAERT limits in permit 18287/PSD-TX-730M4 for emissions ofā various air contaminants.
20.Also as in Count I, Plaintiffs claim āeach regulated air contaminant ... is counted separately for purposes of repeated violations,ā and their tallied table is divided by air contaminant.
21. For these reasons, Plaintiffs have not met their burden to prove either repeated violation pre-complaint or violation both before and after the complaint of the same emission standard or limitation under Count II/Refinery Flexible Permit 18287.
ii. Olefins Plant Flexible Permit 3452
22. Under Count 11/Olefins Plant Flexible Permit 3452, Plaintiffs allege āviolations of general conditions 8, special condition 1, and MAERT limits in permit '3452/ PSD-TX-302M2 for emissions ofā various air contaminants.
23. Also as in the previous counts, Plaintiffs claim āeach regulated air contaminant ... is counted separately for purposes of repeated violations,ā and their tallied table is divided by air contaminant.
24. For these reasons, Plaintiffs have not met their burden to prove either repeated violation pre-complaint or violation both before and after the complaint of the same emission standard or limitation under Count 11/Olefins Plant Flexible Permit 3452.
iii. Chemical Plant Permits: 4600 (Flare Stack 23), 5259 (Furnaces), 20211 (Flare Stack 12, Butyl Units, Aromatics Units), 36476 (Flare 28, Syngas Fugitives), and No Permit Authorization
25. Under Count II/Chemical Plant Permits, Plaintiffs allege violations of different chemical plant permits for various emissions sources, as well as violations with no permit authorization. The evidentiary support cited to is Plaintiffsā Exhibits 2E and 2F (stipulated spreadsheets), 593 and 594 (Plaintiffsā corresponding spreadsheets), and 10 (tallied tables). As in the previous counts, Plaintiffs claim āeach regulated air contaminant ... is counted separately for purposes of repeated violations,ā and their tallied table is
c. Count III
26. Under Count III, Plaintiffs allege violations of the rule that limits plant-wide emissions of highly reactive volatile organic compounds to no more than 1,200 pounds per hour (the āHRVOC
d. Count TV
27. Under Count IV, Plaintiffs allege violations of the rule that prohibits^ visible emission from flares except for periods not to exceed five minutes in two consecutive hours (the āSmoking Flares Ruleā).
e. Count V
28. Under Count V, Plaintiffs allege violations of the rule that requires flares to operate with a pilot flame present at all times (the āPilot Flame Ruleā).
f. Count VI
29. Under Count VI, Plaintiffs allege fugitive emissions are actionable. Specifically, Plaintiffs contend violations of permits 18287, 3452, 20211, 28441, 36476, and 9571; general conditions 8 and 14/15; special condition 1; and MAERT limits for emissions of various air contaminants
g. Count VII
30. Under Count VII, Plaintiffs allege Exxonās Deviations are actionable.
C. Declaratory Judgment
31. Plaintiffs request a ādeclaratory judgment that Exxon violated its Title V permits and thus the CAA.ā
D. Penalties
32. Having found only a few ā but not the vast majority ā of the Events and Devi
33. āIn determining the amount of any penalty to be assessed underā the CAA in a citizen suit, the Court āshall take into consideration (in addition to such other factors as justice may require)ā the following penalty assessment factors:
the size of the business,
the economic impact- of the penalty on the business,
the violatorās full compliance history and good faith efforts to comply,
the duration of the violation as established by any credible evidence...,
payment by the violator of penalties previously assessed for the same violation,
the economic benefit of noncompliance,
and
the seriousness of the violation.
42 U.S.C. § 7413(e)(1).
34. The Court is not required to assess a penalty for violations. 42 U.S.C. § 7413(e)(2) (āA penalty may be assessed for each day of violation.ā (emphasis added)); Luminant Generation Co. v. EPA, 714 F.3d 841, 852 (5th Cir.2013) (ā[T]he penalty assessment criteria ... are considered by the courts ... in determining whether or not to assess a civil penalty for violations and, if so, the amount.ā (emphasis added));.see also 42 U.S.C. § 7413(e)(1) (āIn determining the amount of any penalty to be assessed.... ā (emphasis added)); Envtl. Conservation Org. v. City of Dallas, 529 F.3d 519, 530 (ā[E]ven in the event of a successful citizen suit, the district court is not bound to impose the maximum penalty afforded under the statute.ā).
a. Size of the Business and Economic Impact of the Penalty on the Business
35. Plaintiffs contend the large size and profitability of Exxon weigh towards imposing a penalty. Specifically, Plaintiffs contend Exxon will only be impacted by a large penalty and has the ability to pay the alleged maximum penalty. Exxon does not dispute these contentions, and the Court agrees given the facts found supra in paragraph II.1. Accordingly, both the size and economic impact factors weigh towards assessing a penalty.
b. Violatorās Full Compliance History and Good Faith Efforts to Comply
36.ā Quantitatively, the number of Events and Deviations at issue in this case
37. Moreover, the number of Events and Deviations does not alone mean Exxon did not make a good faith effort to comply. Despite good practices, it is not possible to operate any facility ā especially one as complex as the Complex ā in a manner that eliminates all Events and Deviations.
c. Duration of the Violation
38. Plaintiffs claim the duration of the violations warrants the total maximum penalty because ā in total ā the number of hours and days of violation are high. In so claiming, Plaintiffs made no effort to differentiate- the duration of each of the different Events and Deviations. The total maximum penalty requested by Plaintiffs is the sum of the maximum penalty for each day of violation.
d. Payment by the Violator of Penalties Previously Assessed for the Same Violation
39. Exxon has paid $1,423,632 in monetary penalties for the Events and Deviations at issue in this case to either the TCEQ or Harris County.
e. Economic BeneƱt of Noncompliance
40. Generally, economic benefit of noncompliance is the financial benefit obtained by ādelaying capital expenditures and maintenance costs on pollution-control equipment.ā CITGO Petroleum Corp., 723 F.3d at 552. ā[T]here are two general approaches to calculate economic benefit: (1) the cost of capital, i.e., what it would cost the polluter to obtain the funds necessary to install the equipment necessary to correct the violation; and (2) the actual return on capital, i.e., what the polluter earned on the capital that it declined to divert for installation of the equipment.ā Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). A district court must make a reasonable estimate of economic benefit of noncompliance. Id. at 552-53.
41. Plaintiffs claim Exxonās economic benefit of noncompliance is $657 million as of June 2014. This number is based on Bowersās opinion that the Events and Deviations would not have occurred if (1) if Exxon would have spent $90 million more annually on maintenance and (2) if Exxon would have installed certain capital equipment (an additional sulfur unit costing $100 million, an additional sour gas flare costing $10 million, and two additional compressor stations costing $50 million each). Plaintiffs offered the testimony of an economist, Jonathan Schefftz, who used Bowersās inputs as to maintenance and capital expenditure costs delayed to calculate present-day economic benefit using the weighted-average cost of capital. The Court finds Schefftzās method of calculating economic benefit to be reliable. However, Schefftz made it very clear that he had no opinion as to the reliability of the inputs given to him by Bowers. For reasons explained infra, the Court finds Bowersās inputs to be neither reliable, credible, nor persuasive. Therefore, Schefftzās economic benefit of noncompliance figure is equally unreliable.
42. Bowers is a retired refinery and chemical plant engineer. Bowersās opinions and the bases for his opinions were vague and undetailed. Of the $90 million Bowers opined should have been spent on maintenance, Bowers opined half of the $90 million needed to be spent to hire 900 new employees to ārun[] around inspect
43.After carefully considering all of the evidence, the Court determines the most reasonable estimate of Exxonās economic benefit of noncompliance is $0. Because Exxon received no economic benefit from not complying, this factor weighs against assessing a penalty.
f. Seriousness
44. The CAA does not define āseriousnessā in relation to the penalty assessment factors. See 42 U.S.C. § 7413(e)(1). Some circuit courts, not including the Fifth Circuit, have held that āa court may still impose a penalty if it finds there is a risk or potential risk of environmental harmā even if there is āa lack of evidence on the record linking [a defendantās] CAA violations to discrete damage to either the environment or the public.ā Pound v. Airosol Co., 498 F.3d 1089, 1099 (10th Cir.2007) (citing Pub. Interest Research Grp. of N.J., Inc. v. Powell Duffryn Terminals Inc., 913 F.2d 64, 79 (3d Cir.1990)).
45. Plaintiffs have made no effort to differentiate the degree of seriousness for the different Events and Deviations. Rather, Plaintiffs ask the Court to assess the maximum penalty allowed by law for each Event and Deviation, regardless of degree of seriousness. Such an approach is inappropriate in this case because each of the Events and Deviations differ tremendously. For example, some of the Recordable Events emitted as little as 0.02 pounds of emissions, while some of the Recordable Events emitted over 500 pounds of emissions.
46. Generally, reportable emissions events are more serious and more potentially harmful to human health than recordable emissions events.
47. Plaintiffs claim the Events and Deviations were serious because they adversely affected public health. To support this claim, Plaintiffs submitted evidence of the potential health effects caused by the types of pollutants emitted during the Events and Deviations. For example, hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs or feces, can cause sore throat, cough, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and poor memory at low concentrations.
48. Plaintiffs also claim the Events and Deviations were serious because they created ānuisance-type impactsā to the community that interfered with daily life.
49." As to Deviations not involving emissions, those Deviations typically relate to late reports or incomplete reports.
50. For all of the aforementioned reasons, overall the greater weight of the credible evidence does not support a finding that the Events or Deviations were serious. Accordingly, the seriousness factor weighs against assessing a penalty.
g. Balancing the Factors
51. The maximum penalty for each day of violation is $32,500 for violations occurring before January 13, 2014, and $37,500 for violations occurring on January 13, 2009, and thereafter. 42 U.S.C. § 7413(e)(2); 40 C.F.R. § 19.4. Plaintiffs contend the total maximum penalty, after deducting for overlapping violations, is $642,697,500. Plaintiffs ask the Court to assess Exxon this maximum penalty amount, less the $1,423,632 Exxon has already been penalized for some of the Events and Deviations. Exxon contends it should not be assessed a penalty.
52. After carefully considering all of the penalty assessment factors discussed supra, the Court finds no amount of penalty is appropriate in this case even if all the Events and Deviations are actionable.
E. Injunctive Relief
53. āThe party seeking a permanent injunction must meet a four-part test. It must establish (1) success on the merits; (2) that a failure to grant the injunction will result in irreparable injury; (3) that said injury outweighs any damage that the injunction will cause the opposing party; and (4) that the injunction will not disserve the public interest.ā VRC LLC v. City of Dallas, 460 F.3d 607, 611 (5th Cir.2006). āOther Fifth Circuit authority recognizes that the inadequacy of monetary damages also is a factor in the analysis.ā Reservoir, Inc. v. Truesdell, No. 4:12-2756, 2013 WL 5574897, at *7 (S.D.Tex. Oct. 9, 2013) (Atlas, J.) (citing ITT Educ. Servs., Inc. v. Arce, 533 F.3d 342, 347 (5th Cir.2008)). ā[A]n injunction is a drastic and extraordinary remedy, which should not be granted as a matter of course.ā Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, 561 U.S. 139, 165, 130 S.Ct. 2743, 177 L.Ed.2d 461 (2010). It is within the courtās discretion to grant or deny injunctive relief. Weinberger v. Romero-Barcelo, 456 U.S. 305, 320, 102 S.Ct. 1798, 72 L.Ed.2d 91 (1982). Even if a plaintiff prevails in a citizen suit, the court does not have to award any injunctive relief. Envtl. Conservation Org. v. City of Dallas, 529 F.3d 519, 530 (5th Cir.2008).
54. Plaintiffs request Exxon be enjoined for five years from violating the emission standards and limitations found by this Court to be actionable. The CAA provides that district courts have jurisdiction to enforce emission standards or limitations. 42 U.S.C. § 7604(a). However, ā[t]he grant of jurisdiction to ensure compliance with a statute hardly suggests an absolute duty to do so under any and all
55. Enjoining Exxon from violating CAA standards and limitations would do nothing more than require Exxon to obey the law in the future. The Court finds that such an injunction is unnecessary and that Plaintiffs have not established injury to the public outweighs damage to Exxon. Exxon ā without an injunction ordering it to comply with the CAA ā already faces threat of TCEQ enforcement actions, including penalties, and threat of citizen suits should it not comply with the CAA. The Court believes any additional benefit the public would gain from Exxon having the additional threat of judicial contempt and punishment for violation of a court order is minimal. Additionally, for reasons explained supra in paragraphs III.47-48, the greater weight of the credible evidence does not support a finding that the Events or Deviations were harmful to the public or the environment, and there is no evidence that any potential future emissions events or deviations will be more harmful to the public or the environment than past Events and Deviations allegedly were. To the contrary, the number of Reportable Events, the total amount of emissions, and the amount of unauthorized emissions of-criteria pollutants have all decreased over the years at issue.
F. Special Master
56. Plaintiffs request the Court appoint a special master to monitor compliance with the injunctive relief granted in this Order. Plaintiffs request the special master be paid for by Exxon; have full access to the Complex, its personnel, and records;
57. Moreover, even if the Court had granted the requested injunctive relief, a special master would still not be warranted. Plaintiffs did not show by the preponderance of the credible evidence that a special master could do a better job at reducing emissions events and deviations than the Complexās existing workforce. In addition, a special master would be excessively intrusive to Exxonās operations. Accordingly, Plaintiffsā request that the Court appoint a special master is denied.
G. Affirmative Defenses
58. Exxon contends the proclamations of the Texas governor, the related TCEQ directive, and a statutory āact of Godā defense provide a legal bar to citizen suit liability for the Events and Deviations that occurred during Exxonās Hurricane Ike preparation and response efforts. In addition, Exxon contends the affirmative defense provided under title 30, section 101.222 of the Texas Administrative Code is a defense to the assessment of penalties for some of the Reportable Events. Having found no penalties or other relief is warranted, the Court declines to address Exxonās affirmative defenses.
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Court hereby
ORDERS that all of Plaintiffs Environment Texas Citizen Lobby, Inc. and Sierra Clubās requests in this case, including their request for a declaratory judgment, penalties, injunctive relief, and appointment of a special master, are DENIED. Judgment for Defendants ExxonMobil Corporation, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, and Exx-, onMobil Refining and Supply Company is GRANTED.
The Court will issue a separate Final Judgment.
APPENDIX
As explained in paragraphs III.25-27 of this Order, below is the list of actionable violations under Counts II, III, and IV, with selected information from the stipulated spreadsheets. (All violations under Count V, which are listed, in Plaintiffsā Exhibit 5, are actionable. None of the alleged violations under Counts I, VI, or VII are actionable.)
āPXā refers to Plaintiffsā Exhibit
. The parties submitted 1,148 exhibits that span thousands of pages, and 25 witnesses testified.
. The post-trial submissions considered by the Court' include the plaintiffsā and the defendantsā original proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, which are 455 pages and 361 pages in length, respectively.
.Plaintiffs originally requested $1,023,845,000 in penalties, but they later reduced their request to $642,697,500 to account for overlapping violations alleged in the various counts of the complaint.
. Defendant ExxonMobil Corporation, Exxon-Mobil Chemical Company, and ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Companyās Original Answer, ¶¶ 12-13.
. Trial Transcript at 5-61:6-9.
. Trial Transcript at 5-60:5-21.
. Trial Transcript at 5-61:11-13.
. Defendant ExxonMobil Corporation, Exxon-Mobil Chemical Company, and ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Companyās Original Answer, ¶¶ 11-13.
. Trial Transcript at 3-74:21-25, 4-171:21 to ā¢4-172:6, 4-173:3-5.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 556 at 25.
. Trial Transcript at 3-71:14 to 3-72:6-9, 8-50:20-22.
. Trial Transcript at 3-77:5 to 3-80:1.
. Trial Transcript at 3-56:2-18, 3-60:16-18.
. Trial Transcript at 3-24:19-21, 3-25:4-5, 3-250:5-11, 7-238:23 to 7-239:10, 372:20 to 3-73:24.
. Trial Transcript at 3-75:15-18.
. Trial Transcript at 11-33:19 to 11-39:16.
. Trial Transcript at 2-207:18 to 2-208:9, 2-212:1-3; see 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 122.142(b).
. Trial Transcript at 1-245:9-17, 2-208:13 to 2-209:13.
. Trial Transcript at 3-81:9 to 3-82:1.
. Trial Transcript at 2-205:13 to 2-206:14, 2-216:3-20.
. 30 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 101.1(88), 101.201; Trial Transcript at 2-232:13-20, 2-236:3-24, 12-164:11-23.
. 30 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 101.1(71), 101.201(b); Trial Transcript at 2-232:21 to 2-233:16, 12-164:11-23. The terms "non-reportable emissions eventā and "recordable emissions eventā are interchangeable.
. 30 Tex Admin. Code §§ 122.10(6), 122.145(2); Trial Transcript at 2-217:4 to 2-218:19.
. Trial Transcript at 1-246:3-15.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 1A-7E.
. Defendants' Exhibit 546 at 8, ¶ 24; Trial Transcript at 2-241:14-21, 2244:10-18, 4-5:21-23, 8-85:11-16.
. 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 101.222; Defendants' Exhibit 546 at 3-4, ¶ 10, 4-5, ¶ 12; Trial Transcript at 2-242:19-25, 12-160:2 to 12-162:8; see Trial Transcript at 12-161:10 to 12-162:8.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 546 at 5-7, ¶¶ 13-18.
. Trial Transcript at 3-114:25 to 3-117:4, 4-26:4-16.
. Trial Transcript at 3-117:5-22, 10-39:24 to 10-40:8, 10-219:11 to 10-220:13.
. Trial Transcript at 10-231:15 to 10-232:14.
. Defendants' Exhibit 546 at 6, ¶¶ 16-17.
. Defendants' Exhibit 546 at 6, ¶ 17; Trial Transcript at 10-232:15 to 10-233:10, 10-234:25 to 10-277:15, 11-5:17 to 11-21:18.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 337.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 502 at 1-10.
. Exxon claims it has paid $2,022,288 in penalties, while Plaintiffs claim Exxon has paid $1,423,632 in penalties. After thoroughly reviewing all of the evidence submitted to support each amount, the Court finds Plaintiffs' claim ($1,423,632) to be better supported by the evidence.
. E.g., Defendantsā Exhibits 472 at 3-4, 475 at 2, 486 at 2, 488 at 2.
. Defendantsā Exhibits 18-20; Trial Transcript at 3-202:14 to 3-206:3.
. 30 Tex Admin. Code § 101.222.
. Defendantsā Exhibits 24-29; Trial Transcript at 3-200:9 to 3-202:13.
. Defendantsā Exhibits 26, 26E.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 26E.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 26E.
. DefendantsāExhibits 26, 261.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 261.
. DefendantsāExhibit 261.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 261.
. Trial Transcript at 12-164:11-23.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 1007A at 1; see Plaintiffs'Exhibits IB, 2B, 2D, 2F.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 1007A at 2; see PlaintiffsāExhibits IB, 2B, 2D, 2F.
. Plaintiffs' Exhibit IB at row 800; Trial Transcript at 10-216:17 to 10-218:6, 12234:3-12.
. Plaintiffs' Exhibit 2D at row 2432.
. Trial Transcript at 3-118:9-13, 10-204:11-13, 10-208:1-8.
. Trial Transcript at 10-208:9 to 10-209:17; see Plaintiffs' Exhibits 7A-E.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 7C at row 36, 142; Trial Transcript at 10-207:1-7.
. Trial Transcript at 10-209:18 to 10-210:1.
. Trial Transcript at 10-203:11 to 10-204:10, 10-210:7-12.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 222.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 222 at ¶¶1.13, III.3, III.4, III. 10, III.12; Trial Transcript at 3-'32:25 to 3^10:5, 12-205:15 to 12-207:8.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 222 at ¶ III. 12.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 222 at ¶ III.12.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 222 at ¶ III.10.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 222 at ¶ III.12; Trial Transcript at 3-190:6-24, 12-177:12 to 12-178:6.
. Trial Transcript at 3-32:25 to 3-40:5.
. Defendants' Exhibit 222 at ¶¶ III. 12, 13.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 222 at ¶ III. 14.
. Trial Transcript at 3-82:2 to 3:83:20, 3-273:20 to 3-274:20.
. Trial Transcript at 2-195:1-2, 2-203:8-12, 3-89:22 to 3-90:9, 12-214:19 to 12215:5, 12-226:4-13.
. Trial Transcript at 12-239:22 to 12-240:6.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 413.
. Trial Transcript at 10-47:5 to 10-78:19.
. Trial Transcript at 10-56:13-16.
. Trial Transcript at 10-61:5-17.
. Trial Transcript at 12-231:16 to 12-232:1.
. Trial Transcript at 7-225:3-14, 11-274:25 to 11-275:7, 12-15:4 to 12-16:9, 1220:15-20, 12-25:14-25, 12-26:16-23.
. Defendants'Exhibit 190 al 7-8, 14-15; Defendants' Exhibit 546 at 11, ¶¶ 32-34; Trial Transcript at 3-112:2-8.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 190 at 7-8, 14-15; Defendants' Exhibit 546 at 11, ¶¶ 32-34; Trial Transcript at 3-112:2-8.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 22 at ¶ 1.12.
. Defendants' Exhibits 1004, 1008.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 1002. Under the CAA, the EPA establishes minimum air quality levels in the form of "national ambient air quality standardsā for six pollutants (known as ācriteria pollutantsā) to protect public health. 42 U.S.C. § 7409. The six criteria pollutants are sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, oxides of nitrogen/nitrogen dioxide, and lead. 40 C.F.R. §§ 50.4-17.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 1000 at 1.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 547 at 12:11-12.
. Defendantsā Exhibits 1004, 1008. Emissions from āevent emissionsā are at issue in this case, not āpermitted emissions.ā
. Defendantsā Exhibit 1004 at 1.
. Defendantsā Exhibits 1004, 1008.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 1004 at 1.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 338 at 1Ć 11(2); Trial Transcript at 1-227:16-25.
. Trial Transcript at 1-234:24 to 1-235:4.
. Trial Transcript at 2-125:11-22.
. Trial Transcript at 2-125:23 to 2-126:4.
. Trial Transcript at 1-192:2-22.
. Trial Transcript at 1-193:8 to 1-194:16.
. Trial Transcript at 1-194:17-20.
. Trial Transcript at 1-196:6 to 1-199:9.
. Trial Transcript at 1-199:8-9.
. Trial Transcript at 1-199:10-25.
. Trial Transcript at 1-200:1 to 1-201:15, 1-205:6-25, 1-219:1-14.
. Trial Transcript at 1-205:19 to 1-206:11.
. Trial Transcript at 1-207:25 to 1-209:23, 1-220:1 to 1-222:4.
. Trial Transcript at 1-202:2 to 1-203:8, 1-218:6-17.
. Trial Transcript at 1-203:9 to 1-204:9.
. Trial Transcript at 1-218:3-24.
. Trial Transcript at 1-204:10 to 1-205:5.
. Trial Transcript at 6-69:11-14.
. Trial Transcript at 6-71:3 to 6-75:6.
. Trial Transcript at 6-75:2 to 6-76:15.
. Trial Transcript at 6-76:16-23, 6-83:6-12.
. Trial Transcript at 6-76:24 to 6-77:24.
. Trial Transcript at 6-78:13 to 6-80:5.
. Trial Transcript at 6-95:14-20.
. Trial Transcript at 6-91:23 to 6-95:9. On February 13, 2014, Kingman smelled an odor she attributed as emanating from the Complex, and a Recordable Event occurred that day; however, February 13, 2014, is outside the time frame of this case.
. Trial Transcript at 1-98:18 to 1-99:13.
. Trial Transcript at 1-102:7 to 1-103:6.
. Trial Transcript at 1-102:3-4, 1 ā 106:5ā 11.
. Trial Transcript at 1-108:5-24, 1-109:12-20, 1-118:13-24, 1-121:7 to 1123:18, 1-128:2-3.
. Trial Transcript at 1-109:21 to 1-112:3, 1-131:5 to 1-132:4, 1-176:6-9.
. Trial Transcript at 1-119:5-18.
. Trial Transcript at 1-111:10-20.
. Trial Transcript at 1-148:3 to 1-149:19, 1-187:12 to 1-188:1.
. Trial Transcript at 1-144:21 to 1-145:17.
. Trial Transcript at 1-152:11-21.
. Trial Transcript at 1-153:9-20.
. Trial Transcript at 1-153:9-13, 1 ā 169:3ā 18.
. Trial Transcript at 1-123:19 to 1-131:1, 1-168:17 to 1-181:12.
. Trial Transcript at 6-5:19-23.
. Trial Transcript at 6-11:23 to 6-13:13, 6-37:2-5, 6-40:3-10.
. Trial Transcript at 6-15:18 to 6-16:19, 6-33:12 to 6-36:13.
. Trial Transcript at 6-36:16 to 6-37:1.
. Trial Transcript at 6-15:7-17.
. Trial Transcript at 6-37:9-24.
. Trial Transcript at 6-38:2-19.
. Trial Transcript at 6-38:20-22.'
. Trial Transcript at 6-50:12-20.
. Trial Transcript at 6-17:7 to 6-23:8, 6-45:20 to 6-49:16, 6-65:20 to 6-67:24.
. Trial Transcript at 10-130:11 to 10-131:9.
. Trial Transcript at 10-140:8-24, 10-142:1-6, 10-155:4-12.
. Trial Transcript at 10-142:7-18.
. Trial Transcript at 11-101:8 to 11-102:3, 11-104:10-19.
. Trial Transcript at 11-114:13-18.
. Trial Transcript at 11-113:7-11, 11-114:19 to 11-115:1, 11-115:10-14.
. Trial Transcript at 11-115:5-9.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 545; Trial Transcript at 12-82:11 to 12-86:5.
. Trial Transcript at 12-89:22 to 12-90:14, 12-96:13-22.
. Supra ¶¶ II.19-22.
. Supra ¶¶ II.19-22.
. Supra ¶¶ II.19-22 (Dominguez-0, King-man-0, Cottar-3, and Sprayberry-2).
.Supra ¶¶ II.19-22.
. Supra ¶¶ II.19, 21-22.
. Supra ¶ II.21.
. Supra ¶¶ II.19, 21-22.
. For example, hydrogen sulfide can smell badly and cause headaches, and one of Plaintiffsā members smelled strong, pungent odors that, on occasion, caused him headaches. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 476 at 38-39; Plaintiffsā Exhibit 540 at 1, 4, 10; Trial Transcript at 7-89:25 to 7-91:9, 9-161:24 to 9-162:8; supra ¶ 11.21.
. To the extent the redressability requirement in a CAA case is only satisfied as to penalties for ongoing violations, not wholly past violations, the Court notes Exxon has some ongoing violations. See infra ¶¶ III.9-30 (finding that because Exxon violated some of the same emission standards or limitations both before and after the complaint was filed, those violations are considered ongoing under the CAA and are thus actionable in a citizen suit).
.Specifically, Exxon does not dispute that the alleged violations under Counts II, III, IV, and V of Plaintiffsā complaint constitute violations of an emission standard or limitation. However, Exxon does dispute that the alleged violations under Counts I, VI, and VII constitute violations of an emission standard or limitation.
. Carr is a Clean Water Act ("CWAā) case. The "to be in violationā provision in the CAA is identical to the "to be in violationā provision in the CWA. Compare 42 U.S.C. § 7604(a)(CAA), with 33 U.S.C. § 1365(a)(l)(CWA). Interpretations of the CWA provision are instructive when analyzing the CAA provision. See United States v. Anthony DellāAquilla, Enters. & Subsidiaries, 150 F.3d 329, 338 n. 9 (3d Cir.1998).
. Because Plaintiffs do not claim a continuing likelihood of recurrence for purposes of actionability, the Court declines to address in detail this method of proving actionability. However, the Court does find that the preponderance of the credible evidence does not support such a finding. The number of Events and Deviations does not alone prove a likelihood of recurring violations. See supra ¶ II.7; infra ¶¶ III.36-37, 42. The testimony of Keith Bowers, particularly his opinion that
Exxon contends that to be actionable, the law requires the violations to have involved the same equipment, the same emissions point, and the same root cause. Such considerations may be applicable to one way to prove actionability: method (2)(b) continuing likelihood of recurrence, particularly method (2)(b)(ii) likelihood that the same inadequately corrected source of trouble will cause recurring violations of one or more different parameters. However, such considerations are not required to prove actionability the other two ways: method (1) repeated violation of the same emission standard or limitation pre-complaint, or method (2)(a) violation of the same emission standard or limitation both before and after the complaint. For additional background on why violations are not required to have involved the same equipment, the same emissions point, and the same root cause to be actionable, see ExxonMobil Corp., ECF No. 126 at 11-13.
. Supra ¶ 11.4.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 1A-7E; see supra ¶ II.5. These stipulated spreadsheets span hundreds of pages and contain thousands of rows of alleged violations. The Court has reviewed the details of all these spreadsheets.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 587-603. Exxon contends Plaintiffsā method of calculating the number of days of violation is legally incorrect. Reference in this Order to Plaintiffsā calculation of the number of days of violation does not indicate the Court agrees on the accuracy of Plaintiffsā calculations.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 9-15.
. Plaintiffsā Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 117 (capitalization omitted).
. Plaintiffs' Revised Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 58 (capitalization omitted).
. Plaintiffs' Exhibit 9 at 1 (capitalization omitted).
. Although unclear, Plaintiffs appear to be ' combining a condition incorporated into a flexible permit that does not authorize upset emissions with conditions incorporated into the same flexible permit that limit separate air contaminants. Plaintiffs have not met their burden to prove how any such combination is actionable.
. See Plaintiffsā Exhibits 1A-1B, 587-88.
. See Plaintiffsā Exhibit 9.
. PlaintiffsāExhibit 9.
. Under Count I, when computing days of violations, Plaintiffs considered every hourly emission limit to be zero because they claim
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 1A-1B, 587-88 (capitalization omitted).
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 9 at 2.
. See Plaintiffsā Exhibits 1A-1B, 587-88.
. Compare Plaintiffs' Exhibits 1A at row 133, and 587 at row 133; with 1A at row 158, and 587 at row 158; with 1A at row 544, and 587 at row 544. Plaintiffs counted each of these events as at least one day of violation.
As another example, Plaintiffs claim hydrogen sulfide limits were violated 1,068 days pre-complaint and 313 days post-complaint and thus such violations are actionable. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 9 at 2. However, the hydrogen sulfide limit for the Recordable Event starting on October 23, 2005, was 15.78 pounds per hour; but the hydrogen sulfide limit for the Recordable Event starting on November 3, 2006, was 0 pounds per hour. Compare Plaintiffsā Exhibits IB at row 69, and 588 at row'69; with IB at row 154, and 588 at row 154. Plaintiffs counted each of these events as at least one day of violation.
.Plaintiffsā Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 124 (capitalization omitted); see also Plaintiffs' Exhibit 10 at 2.
. PlaintiffsāExhibits 2A-2B, 589-90.
. Plaintiffs' Exhibit 10 at 2-3.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 2.
. See Plaintiffs' Exhibits 2A-2B, 589-90.
. Compare Plaintiffsā Exhibits 2A at row 405, and 589 at row 405; with 2A at row 697, and 589 at row 697. Plaintiffs counted each of these events as at least one day of violation.
As another example, Plaintiffs claim carbon monoxide limits were violated 677 days pre-complaint and 256 days post-complaint and thus such violations are actionable. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 2. However, the carbon monoxide limit for the Recordable Event starting on June 9, 2011, was 3,736.48 pounds per hour; but the carbon monoxide limit for the Recordable Event starting on June 29, 2011, was 0 pounds per hour. Compare Plaintiffsā Exhibits 2B at row 8712, and 590 at row 8714; with 2B at row 8817, and 590 at row 8819. Plaintiffs counted each of these events as at least one day of violation.
. The fact that the permit is a flexible permit does not change the Courtās analysis because Plaintiffs must prove repeated violation of a specific condition or limitation of a Title V permit, not repeated violation of a Title V permit.
. Plaintiffsā Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 127 (capitalization omitted); see also Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 3.
. PlaintiffsāExhibits 2C-2D, 591-92.
. Plaintiffs' Exhibit 10 at 2-3.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 2.
. See Plaintiffsā Exhibits 2C-2D, 591-92.
. Compare Plaintiffs' Exhibits 2C at row 51, and 591 at row 51; with 2C at row 81, and 591 at row 81. Plaintiffs counted each of these events as at least one day of violation.
As another example, Plaintiffs claim carbon monoxide limits were violated 538 days pre-complaint and 260 days post-complaint and thus such violations are actionable. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 2. However, the carbon monoxide limit for the Recordable Event starting on October 31, 2005, was 6627.58 pounds per hour; but the carbon monoxide limit for the Recordable Event starting on January 6, 2006, was 0 pounds per hour. Compare Plaintiffsā Exhibits 2D at row 13, and 592 at row 13; with 2D at row 22, and 592 at row 22. Plaintiffs counted each of these events as at least one day of violation.
.The fact that the permit is a flexible permit does not change the Courtās analysis because Plaintiffs must prove repeated violation of a specific condition or limitation of a Title V permit, not repeated violation of a Title V permit.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 2-6.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 4.
. Compare Plaintiffs' Exhibits 2E at row ā 181, and 593 at row 181; with 2E at row 189, and 593 at row 189; with 2E at row 194, and 593 at row 194. Plaintiffs counted each, of these events as at least one day of violation.
. Compare Plaintiffsā Exhibits 2E at row 181, and 593 at row 181; with 2E at row 189, and 593 at row 189; with 2E at row 194, and 593 at row 194.
. For example, under chemical plant permit 36476 (flare stack 28), Plaintiffs claim hydrogen cyanide limits were violated 3 days and thus such violations are actionable. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 10 at 5. However, the hydrogen cyanide limit for the Recordable Event starting on December 23, 2009, was 3.31 pounds per hour; but the hydrogen cyanide limit for the Recordable Event starting on September 1, 2012, was 0.10 pounds per hour, even though the spreadsheets corroborate that both events involved permit 36476 and flare stack 28. Compare Plaintiffsā Exhibits 2E at row 159, and 593 at row 159; with 2E at row 205, and 593 at row 205. Plaintiffs counted each of theseā events as at least one day of violation.
.The actionable violations are listed in the appendix to this Order.
. Plaintiffs' Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 100.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 11. Only violations at the olefins and chemical plant are listed; no violations at the refinery are listed.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 3 at row 5, 595 at row 5.
. E.g., Plaintiffsā Exhibits 3 at row 4, 595 at row 4.
. The actionable violations are listed in the appendix to this Order.
. Plaintiffsā Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 101.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 12.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 4 at row 21, 596 at row 21.
. E.g., Plaintiffsā Exhibits 4 at row 6, 596 at row 6. An opacity limit of 0% cannot be assumed because varying opacity limits are listed on the spreadsheets.
. The actionable violations are listed in the appendix to this Order.
. Plaintiffsā Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 101.
. Plaintiffs ā Exhibit 13.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 5 at row 17, 597 at row 17.
. All the violations listed in Plaintiffsā Exhibit 5 are actionable.
. Plaintiffsā Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 102; Plaintiffsā Revised Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 58-59; Plaintiffsā Exhibit 14 at 1.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibits 6 (capitalization omitted), 598 (capitalization omitted).
. See Plaintiffsā Exhibits 6, 598.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 598.
. The Court notes that Plaintiffs recognize violations under Count VI overlap with violations under other counts.
. The evidentiary support cited to is Plaintiffsā Exhibits 7A-7E (stipulated spreadsheets), 599-603 (Plaintiffs' corresponding spreadsheets), and 15 (tallied tables).
. See also Trial Transcript at 10-203:3-13, 10-209:7-14 (discussing how deviations are indications of noncompliance with a permit condition).
. Plaintiffsā Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 405; Plaintiffsā Revised Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 58.
. Supra ¶¶ III.9-12.
. Supra ¶¶ III. 13-30.
. Because the penalty provisions in the CAA are similar to the penalty provisions in the CWA, "CWA cases are instructive in analyzing [penalty] issues arising under the CAA.ā Pound v. Airosol Co., 498 F.3d 1089, 1094 n. 2 (10th Cir.2007) (citing United States v. Anthony DellāAquilla, Enters. & Subsidiaries, 150 F.3d 329, 338 n. 9 (3d Cir.1998)).
. See supra ¶ II.5.
. Supra ¶ II.2.
. See Trial Transcript at 10-220:14 to 10-223:16.
. Trial Transcript at 10-221:24 to 10-222:10.
. Supra ¶ 11.15. The Court understands impossibility is not a defense to penalties, except as it might apply to the applicable affirmative defense criteria. The Court does not consider the fact that it is not possible to operate the Complex in a manner that eliminates all Events and Deviations as a reason to not impose penalties. Rather, the Court notes this fact only to explain that the number of Events and Deviations does not alone mean Exxon did not make a good faith effort to comply.
. Supra ¶ 11.16.
. Supra ¶ II.7.
. In particular, the Court finds Bowersās testimony regarding the Events and Deviations having "common causesā is neither credible nor persuasive. For example, the Events and Deviations that Bowers categorizes as having the same common cause of "power supply failuresā include the following: moisture got into the connections of improperly installed lightening arresters, causing them to short out; a squirrel bypassed animal traps, causing some electrical equipment to short circuit; and a hawk dropped a snake on top of Substation One, causing an
. Supra ¶¶ II.7-9.
. Supra ¶ II.7.
. Supra H 11.14.
. Trial Transcript at 12-16:10-20.
. Defendantsā Exhibit 546 at 14 ā 15, ¶¶ 40-44.
. In addition to the aforementioned issues, Plaintiffs contend Exxon's policy of always asserting the affirmative defense to penalties to the TCEQ is, in itself, bad faith. Based on the greater weight of the credible evidence, the Court disagrees such policy is in bad faith. Although Exxon initially asserts the affirmative defense when reporting an event to the TCEQ, the TCEQ, after investigation, determines whether the affirmative defense actually does apply.
. See 42 U.S.C.' § 7413(e)(2); 40 C.F.R. § 19.4; Plaintiffs' Revised Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at 68-69.
. See Plaintiffs' Exhibits 1A-7E.
. Supra ¶ II. 10.
. Supra ¶ II. 10.
.Supra ¶ II.8.
. Trial Transcript at 4-181:15 to 4-182:15.
. Trial Transcript at 4-182:4 ā 7.
. Trial Transcript at 4-267:6-23.
. Trial Transcript at 10-56:17 to 10-57:25, 11-56:22 to 11-58:19, 12-26:24 to 12-34:8.
. Supra ¶¶ II.12-14.
. Supra ¶¶ II.12-14.
. The Fifth Circuit has not opined on this issue.
. Supra ¶ II.10.
. Supra ¶ II.10.
. See supra ¶ II.5.
. Supra ¶ II.5.
. See supra ¶ II. 10 ("58% [of Recordable Events] had total emissions of 20 pounds or less, 80% had total emissions of 100 pounds or less, 87% had total emissions of 200 pounds or less, and 93% had total emissions of 500 pounds or less.ā).
One of Plaintiffs' experts, Ranajit Sahu, opined the actual quantities of emissions from Exxonās flares are often greater than the quantity Exxon reports to the TCEQ. The Court was not persuaded by this opinion and finds it is against the preponderance of the credible evidence.
. Supra ¶ II. 10.
. Supra ¶ II.10.
. Supra HII.il.
. SwpraHII.il.
. Plaintiffsā Exhibit 476 at 38-39; Plaintiffsā Exhibit 540 at 1, 4, 10; Trial Transcript at 7-89:25 to 7-91:9, 9-161:24 to 9-162:8.
. See e.g., Plaintiffsā Exhibit 539 at 25, 27-29; Plaintiffs' Exhibit 476 at 50-51; Trial Transcript at 7-90:11-16, 7-91:10 to 7-92:9.
. Plaintiffsā claim Exxonās own air dispersion modeling and stationary air monitor data showed that, in some instances, the predicted off-site concentrations of pollutants exceeded safety thresholds, such as Effects Screening
. Plaintiffsā Revised Proposed Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law at 68, ¶ 78.
. Supra ¶¶ 11.19-22.
. Supra ¶ II.3; see supra ¶¶1.19, 21-22 (finding Plaintiffs' members understood some emissions and flaring is authorized by permit).
. Supra ¶ 11.17.
. Supra ¶¶ 11.19-22 (Dominguez-O, King-man-0, Cottar-3, and Sprayberry-2). The Court notes this lack of a correlation, except for five Events or Deviations, only to help explain why Plaintiffs' proposition that the Events or Deviations were serious because they created nuisance-type impacts on the surrounding community, or adversely affected public health, is largely unsubstantiated. In doing so, the Court does not hold such link is required for a finding that the Events and Deviations were serious under a penalty analysis.
In addition to Plaintiffsā members' testimonies, Plaintiffs claim in their post-trial submission that ā[m]any times, Exxon personnel have noted on the complaint log that the date and time of a citizen complaint corresponds to the date and time of an emission event occurring at the Complex.ā Plaintiffs' Proposed Findings of Fact of Fact and Conclusions of Law, ¶ 969. The only support Plaintiffs cited to in their post-trial submission for this proposition are complaints logged on the complaint log on 2/18/2008; however, Plaintiffs did not cite evidence that an Event or Deviation occurred on that day. Id. ¶¶ 969-70. Plaintiffs did not specifically reference any other correlations besides the one on 2/18/2008. See id. Therefore, Plaintiffs have not adequately shown any of the complaints on the complaint log correlated to any Events or Deviations in this case. Accordingly, the Court does not find the complaint log persuasive evidence that any of the Events or Deviations were serious.
.See supra ¶¶ 11.23-25.
. Supra ¶¶ 11.23-25.
. Although the impacts to Plaintiffs' members are traceable enough to the Complex to confer standing under standing law, this traceability is too tenuous to support a finding that the specific Events and Deviations caused impacts to Plaintiffsā members under a penalty analysis.
. Supra ¶ 11.11.
. Trial Transcript at 4-161:10-25.
. Neither of the parties contend justice requires consideration of any other factors, and the Court finds none either.
. As explained supra in ¶ III.39, $1,423,632 ' will be deducted from any, penalty otherwise warranted. As explained supra in HIII.38, the duration of the violation factor weighs neither towards nor against assessing a penalty-
. The CAA does not prescribe a specific method for determining appropriate penalties. Some courts use the top-down approach, in which the court starts at the maximum penalty allowed by law and reduces downward as appropriate considering the factors as mitigating factors. CITGO Petroleum Corp., 723 F.3d at 552. Other courts employ the bottom-up approach, in which the court starts at the economic benefit of noncompliance and adjusts upward or downward as appropriate considering the factors. Id. Rejecting a requirement that a district court must employ either the top-down or bottom-up approach, some circuit courts have held the district court can "simply rely[] upon [the] factors to arrive at an appropriate amountā without starting at a specific amount because "[t]he statute only requires that the [penalty] be consistent with a consideration of each of the factors.ā United States v. Anthony DellāAquilla, Enters. & Subsidiaries, 150 F.3d 329, 339 (3d Cir.1998); see Pound v. Airosol Co., 498 F.3d 1089, 1095 (10th Cir.2007). "The [Fifth] [C]ircuit has never held that a particular approach must be followedā and has left such decision to the discretion of the district court. CITGO Petroleum Corp., 723 F.3d at 552, 554.
As to the top-down approach, Plaintiffs contend the maximum penalty is $642,697,500. Exxon contends Plaintiffsā calculation of the maximum penalty is incorrect because they incorrectly counted the number of days of violation pursuant to the law. In this particular case, the Court does not need to decide whether Plaintiffsā calculation of the total maximum penalty is legally correct because, even assuming it is correct and starting at $642,697,500 under the top-down approach, the Court finds $642,697,500 should be mitigated downward to $0 based on the factors. As to the bottom-up approach, the economic benefit of noncompliance is $0 for reasons explained supra in ¶¶ III.40-43. Starting at $0, the Court finds $0 should not be adjusted upward based on the factors. Therefore, whether taking a top-down approach, bottom-up approach, or simply relying upon the factors to arrive at an appropriate amount, the Courtās penalty finding is the same.
. Supra ¶ 11.16.
. See supra ¶¶ II. 12-14.