Kinder Morgan to pay penalty and improve
accident prevention and preparedness at natural gas plants in Casper and
Douglas, Wyoming
Natural gas processor will pay $316K penalty, improve risk management and maintenance
Contact: David Cobb 303-312-6592, cobb.david@epa.gov; Mathew Allen 303-312-6085 allen.matthew@epa.gov
(Denver, Colo. – September 20, 2012) The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency today announced two Clean Air Act settlements
with Kinder Morgan Upstream LLC in which the company has agreed to pay a total
of $316,000 in penalties for violating Risk Management Plan provisions
at natural gas plants in Casper and Douglas,
Wyoming. In addition, the
company has agreed to establish new operating procedures, improve equipment
maintenance, and perform integrity tests on pressure vessels to reduce the
possibility of an accidental release of hazardous chemicals at both
facilities.
“Companies that use
chemicals and substances which pose a potential danger are responsible for
having a robust risk management program in place,” said Mike Gaydosh, director
of EPA’s enforcement program in Denver. “Failure to do so places the
environment, employees, and nearby communities at risk.”
Under the Clean Air Act, facilities that contain hazardous and flammable substances above specified thresholds must develop and submit a risk management plan to assist with emergency preparedness, chemical release prevention, and minimization of releases that occur. EPA inspectors found that the Kinder Morgan facilities had not adequately implemented those regulations.
For more information on the Clean Air Act and risk management requirements: http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/
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