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EPA settles Clean Air Act lawsuit with Williams Gas Processing Co.

Release Date: 4/25/2001
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6893,

Release Date: 4/25/2001
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6206,

Release Date: 4/25/2001
Contact Information:
EPA 303-312-6890,

Release Date: 4/25/2001
Contact Information:
EPA 800-227-8917

Denver -- Under an agreement finalized with the Justice Department and EPA, Williams Gas Processing Company, Inc. and its affiliate Williams Field Services Company will spend nearly a million dollars to settle an environmental suit alleging Clean Air Act (CAA) violations at its gas processing plant in southwest Colorado, EPA’s Denver Regional Office announced today.

The settlement, filed April 23 in U.S. District Court in Denver, requires Williams to pay an $850,000 civil penalty for unapproved plant emissions. The penalty seeks to recover roughly $750,000 in economic benefits or profits the companies made as a result of their failure to follow the law.

The Williams' plant is located in Ignacio, Colorado, on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The lawsuit claimed that emissions from two of the companies’ Ignacio Gas Plant processing units contributed to air pollution on and around the reservation. EPA is responsible for protecting air quality within tribal lands and ensuring industrial sources operating in those territories have proper permits.

New machinery and unauthorized plant modifications in 1984 led to increased emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are primary ingredients in ground-level ozone pollution or smog. The emissions increases began without prior EPA approval. Williams became responsible for the past violations and for securing the necessary permits when it acquired the plant in 1993.

“Williams operated its Ignacio gas plant without the necessary air pollution permits,” said EPA’s Regional Enforcement Director Carol Rushin. “Those permits limit the pollution allowed into the environment near the facility.” As part of the settlement, Williams must apply for proper permits for its two gas processing units to cover all emissions associated with the 1984 plant modifications.

The plant modifications also violated “PSD” air pollution requirements. The Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program was developed under the nation’s Clean Air Act, to preserve the quality of air in areas where it is currently clean. PSD rules strictly limit air pollution increases in those areas. “PSD rules are in place to ensure economic growth is balanced with preserving existing clean air resources,” Rushin remarked.

Without admitting to any of the allegations, the Williams companies agreed to pay the penalty, obtain the necessary permits and comply with all applicable laws in the future.