A federal judge in Houston, Texas has ordered Exxon Mobil to pay nearly $20 million for polluting the atmosphere.
Exxon’s refining and chemical plant in Baytown, Texas spewed around 5,000 tonnes of pollutants into the air for eight years between 2005 to 2013.
US district court judge, David Hittner, issued the ruling in a citizen lawsuit brought under the US Clean Air Act by two environmental groups, Environment Texas and the Sierra Club.
The judge said that evidence showed the Texas oil company violated the Clean Air Act 16,386 times.
Although Exxon has already paid $1.4 million in fines to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Harris Country, the Clean Air Act allows citizens to file a suit against companies they believe are in violation of a federal environmental law, and the government is not addressing it.
Unless the company successfully appeals the decision, they will have to pay $19.95 million to the US treasury department.
Exxon have said they are considering their legal options.