DEQ Fines Helps Purchase New Equipment
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Criminal fines are allowing the state Department of Environmental Quality and state police to buy air monitoring equipment, vehicles, clothing, safety goggles and first aid kits.
Tim Knight, administrator of DEQ's assessment division, tells The Advocate the $1 million in fines allows the state to purchase the items.
The money comes from a federal judge's order last year that Houston-based Pelican Refining Co. pay $12 million for violating the U.S. Clean Air Act and obstructing justice. The fines stemmed from broken or poorly functioning pollution-control equipment at the company's Lake Charles refinery and the filing of false reports.
The fine gave $1 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and $500,000 each to DEQ and State Police Emergency Services Unit.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Earthquake Centered Near New York City Rattles Northeast](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2018/07/E4J7DD.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![School Shooting Rocks Perry, Iowa Community on First Day Back from Holiday Break](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2022/03/attachment-Do-Not-Cross-Police-Tape-Photo-courtesy-of-David-Von-Diemar-jM6Y2nhsAtk-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Republicans Are in Court to Fight Efforts to Establish New Black Congressional District](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2022/04/attachment-gettyimages-1219410516.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Three Federal Gun Charges Filed After His Plea Deal Collapse](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2021/04/GettyImages-Hunter-Biden.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Gaetz Says He Will Seek to Oust McCarthy as Speaker This Week, McCarthy Says ‘Bring It On’](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/10/attachment-Getty-Images-Matt-Gaetz.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at age 90](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/09/attachment-Dianne-Feinstein-Getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![New York Judge Rules Donald Trump Defrauded Banks, Insurers While Building Real Estate Empire](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2022/03/attachment-GettyImages-1330466317.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Donald Trump Described Pentagon Plan of Attack and Shared Classified Map, Indictment Says](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2022/03/attachment-GettyImages-1330466317.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Jury Finds Trump Liable for Sexual Abuse, Awards Accuser $5M](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2021/06/GettyImages-1304610005.jpg?w=980&q=75)