Stone Energy Corporation Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

Press release:

Stone Energy Corporation Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

(DALLAS – August 24, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Stone Energy Corporation of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, $7,055 for violating federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the federal Clean Water Act.

A January 25, 2012, EPA inspection of its Main Pass 21 oil production facility located in Venice, Louisiana, revealed the facility had failed to conduct inspections in accordance with SPCC regulations. The inspection also found the facility’s SPCC plan did not discuss flowline high pressure devices and well shut-in valves as well as adequate protection of sub-marine piping against environmental stresses.

SPCC regulations require onshore oil production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and countermeasures to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality since a spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

Additional information on SPCC regulations is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oilspill

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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Petco Petroleum Corporation Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

Press release:

Petco Petroleum Corporation Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

(DALLAS – August 22, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Petco Petroleum Corporation of Hinsdale, Illinois, $3,650 for violating federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act.

A March 31, 2012, EPA inspection of its Jemima Richard oil production facility located on Highway 33 in Drumright, Creek County, Oklahoma, revealed personnel working at the facility had no training on the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges, discharge procedure protocols, or training on applicable pollution control laws, rules and regulations. The inspection also found spill prevention briefings were not scheduled and conducted periodically, visual inspections of containers, foundation and supports were not conducted as required by SPCC regulations and above ground valves and pipelines were not examined on a scheduled basis for general condition.

As part of an Expedited Settlement Agreement with the EPA, the facility has provided certification that all identified deficiencies have been corrected.

SPCC regulations require onshore oil production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and countermeasures to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality since a spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

Additional information on SPCC regulations is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oilspill

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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Breck Operating Corporation Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

Press release:

Breck Operating Corporation Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

(DALLAS – August 15, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Breck Operating Corporation of Breckenridge, Texas, $2,250 for violating federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations at two of its oil production facilities.

On June 7, 2012, an EPA inspection at the facilities found numerous violations including; inadequate or no description of drainage controls, no information and procedures for reporting a discharge and inadequate discussion of spill prevention procedures. The inspections also revealed the facilities had no facility diagram, no contingency plan and no written commitment of manpower, equipment and materials.

The facilities inspected and fined were:

G.H. Newsom oil production facility, Jack County, Texas, $1,125

J. H. Holden oil production facility, Jack County, Texas, $1,125

As part of an Expedited Settlement Agreement with the EPA, the corporation has provided certification that all identified deficiencies have been corrected.

SPCC regulations require onshore production and bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, control and countermeasures to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality since a spill of one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

Additional information on SPCC regulations is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oilspill

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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Maine Company Faces Penalty for Violations of Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Office         
August  2, 2012

Contact Information: Dave Deegan, (617) 918-1017

Maine Company Faces Penalty for Violations of Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations

(Boston, Mass. – August 2, 2012) A Maine company that provides motor vehicle services and fuel oil sales is facing a fine of up to $177,500 for violations of the Clean Water Act. 

 EPA recently filed a complaint against the J&S Oil Co., Inc. for failing to maintain and fully implement an oil spill prevention plan, which contributed to the release of approximately 1,500 gallons of used motor oil from a tanker truck at the facility.

The oil release in March 2012 prompted an emergency response from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and EPA.  The company also hired an oil spill response company to contain the spilled oil and dispose of contaminated soils. 

EPA determined that the company had failed to fully maintain and implement it Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan, as required by the Clean Water Act. SPCC plans specify spill prevention measures at facilities that store oil above threshold amounts and help ensure that a tank failure or oil spill does not lead to oil reaching bodies of water.  In its complaint EPA alleges that the company failed to provide for adequate secondary containment for some of the facility’s above-ground storage tanks and the tanker trucks parked at the facility; failed to provide secondary containment for the loading/unloading rack; failed to maintain adequate training records of oil-handling personnel in the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges; and, failed to provide adequate security for the facility.

For more information on federal oil spill prevention requirements:

            http://www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/er/oilstor.htm

            http://www.epa.gov/oilspill

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Martin Operating Partnership in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

Press release:

Martin Operating Partnership in Cameron Parish, Louisiana,

Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

(DALLAS – August 2, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined Martin Operating Partnership in Cameron, Louisiana, $14,400 for violating federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act.

A February 28, 2012, federal inspection of the partnership’s Cameron 7 Terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, revealed the facility failed to properly manage retained stormwater from inside diked areas and failed to keep the diked area rainwater bypass valve in a closed and sealed position. The inspection also found the terminal’s SPCC plan failed to provide an adequate schedule for tank integrity testing, and the required facility diagram failed to list all oil tankage at the terminal.

SPCC regulations require onshore oil production and bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, control and countermeasures to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality since a spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

Additional information on SPCC regulations is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oilspill

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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US Liquids of Louisiana, LP, Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

US Liquids of Louisiana, LP, Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

(DALLAS – July 17, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency has fined US Liquids of Louisiana, LP, of Jennings, Louisiana, $13,552 for violating Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act.

A federal inspection of the company’s Bateman Island marine terminal in St. Mary Parish revealed the terminal’s SPCC plan failed to provide a prediction of equipment failures that could result in discharges, personnel working at the facility had no training on the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges, and facility inspections had not been conducted.

The company also failed to schedule periodic spill prevention briefings, address secondary containment of truck loading, unloading and transfer areas, and to regularly inspect above-ground valves, piping and joints.

SPCC regulations require onshore production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and response to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality since a spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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