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Texas Accuses BP Of Poorly Operating Its Refinery

Texas environmental regulators are accusing BP of showing a pattern of ``poor operation and maintenance practices'' at its Texas City refinery, the same plant where a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality made the accusation after investigating an incident at the refinery that led to a nearly 40 day release of toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. The commission's findings were passed along to the state attorney general on July 23.
The release began April 6, days before a BP-operated rig blew up in the Gulf of Mexico.
BP did not immediately comment Wednesday.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks $10 billion in damages for the same incident. The lawsuit says BP's release exposed people to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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