"Texas Accuses BP of Poorly Operating Its Refinery"

"HOUSTON -- A BP Texas City refinery that was the site of a massive 2005 explosion that killed 15 workers has a pattern of poor operation and maintenance practices, Texas environmental regulators reported after investigating a 46-day release of toxic and cancer-causing chemicals from the plant this spring.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality handed its findings over to the state's attorney general because BP's violations are 'egregious,' the company has a poor compliance history and the courts have the power to hand down greater monetary fines, said John Sadlier, deputy director of TCEQ's Office of Compliance and Enforcement."

Ramit Plushnick-Masti reports for the Associated Press August 4, 2010.