Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM has suffered a legal blow after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear its appeal challenging a $14.25 million civil penalty linked to air pollution violations at its massive Baytown refinery complex in Texas, per a Reuters report. With this decision, the largest penalty ever imposed in a citizen-led lawsuit under the Clean Air Act remains intact.
XOM Baytown Penalty Stems From Decade-Old Environmental Lawsuit
According to the report, the case traces back to a 2010 lawsuit filed by the Environment Texas Citizen Lobby and the Sierra Club. Environmental groups alleged that ExxonMobil’s Baytown facility, the largest integrated petrochemical complex in the United States, repeatedly violated Clean Air Act emission standards between 2005 and 2013. These violations, according to the plaintiffs, exposed nearby communities to carcinogenic and ozone-forming chemicals, posing serious health and environmental risks.
In 2017, U.S. district judge David Hittner initially imposed a $19.95 million penalty on ExxonMobil for violating the emission norms. That ruling was later vacated by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which instructed the district court to reassess the penalty. The revised judgment in 2021 resulted in a $14.25 million fine, which the appellate court ultimately upheld.
XOM’s Supreme Court Challenge Faces Rejection
ExxonMobil argued that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing and criticized the appellate court's interpretation of standing requirements. The company contended that the ruling set a low bar by allowing plaintiffs to sue for penalties if the pollution could have caused the harm, even if it did not necessarily do so. ExxonMobil also urged the court to overturn its precedent in Friends of the Earth v. Laidlaw Environmental Services (2000), which permits citizen groups to seek penalties under the Clean Air Act even though the fines are paid to the U.S. Treasury.
Despite the company’s arguments and the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative composition, the justices declined to revisit the precedent or take up Exxon’s appeal. Justice Clarence Thomas, the only remaining member from the Laidlaw era, had previously opposed the decision.
XOM Lobbyist Under Scrutiny Amid Email Leak Probe
According to the report, adding to ExxonMobil’s legal woes, an investigation has surfaced into a consultant who lobbied on the company’s behalf in connection with a cyberattack and leak involving environmentalist emails. While details remain limited, the development could bring further scrutiny to the company’s public affair operations.
The Supreme Court's decision signals stronger judicial backing for citizen-led environmental enforcement. For ExxonMobil, it reinforces the legal and reputational risks tied to environmental compliance at its industrial facilities.
XOM’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
XOM currently carries a Zack Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the energy sector may look at a few better-ranked stocks like Subsea 7 S.A. SUBCY, W&T Offshore, Inc. WTI and Oceaneering International, Inc. OII. Subsea 7 presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while W&T Offshore and Oceaneering International carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Subsea 7 helps build underwater oil and gas fields. It is a top player in the Oil and Gas Equipment and Services market, which is expected to grow as oil and gas production moves further offshore.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SUBCY’s 2025 EPS is pegged at $1.31. The company has a Value Score of A.
W&T Offshore benefits from its prolific Gulf of America assets, which offer low decline rates, strong permeability and significant untapped reserves. The company’s acquisition of six shallow-water fields in the GoA added 18.7 million barrels of proved reserves and 60.6 million barrels of proved plus probable reserves. The firm is focused on strategically allocating capital toward organic projects, which should boost its production outlook. WTI has a Value Score of B.
Oceaneering International delivers integrated technology solutions across all stages of the offshore oilfield lifecycle. With a geographically diverse asset portfolio and a balanced revenue mix between domestic and international operations, the company effectively mitigates risk. As a leading provider of offshore equipment and technology solutions to the energy sector, OII benefits from strong relationships with top-tier customers, ensuring revenue visibility and business stability.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OII’s 2025 EPS is pegged at $1.79. The company has a Value Score of B.
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Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report W&T Offshore, Inc. (WTI): Free Stock Analysis Report Oceaneering International, Inc. (OII): Free Stock Analysis Report Subsea 7 SA (SUBCY): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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