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Texas and Oklahoma Companies Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

Release Date: 05/11/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

(Dallas, Texas – May 11, 2009) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined one Texas and two Oklahoma companies $2,500 for violating federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act.

Federal inspections in February and March 2009 of oil production facilities found numerous violations. For example, inspections and tests required by SPCC regulations were not in accordance with written procedures and spill prevention briefings were not scheduled and conducted periodically. The inspections also revealed personnel working at the facilities had no training in several areas, including: operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges; discharge procedure protocols; general facility operations; and applicable pollution control laws, rules and regulations.

The facilities and fines assessed as a result of the inspections were as follows:

· Noble Energy, Inc., Houston, Texas - $900;
· Southwest Petroleum Corp., Drumright, Oklahoma - $850; and
· Marjo Operating Co. Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma - $750

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

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

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

More about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/may2009.html
Note: EPA’s news release process is shifting to an email based distribution system. If your organization has a preferred email account(s) for future announcements, please provide your information to us at [email protected] or call our press office at 214-665-2200.