The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice announced a settlement with Enbridge Energy LP and several related Enbridge companies to resolve claims stemming from two separate oil spills in Marshall, MI and Romeoville, IL, in 2010. Enbridge agreed to spend at least $110 million on measures to prevent spills and improve operations across nearly 2,000 miles of its pipeline system in the Great Lakes area, and to pay $62 million in civil penalties for Clean Water Act violations, the agencies said. Enbridge will also pay more than $5.4 million in unreimbursed costs incurred by the government in connection with cleanup of the Marshall spill, as well as all future removal costs incurred by the government in connection with the spill. In addition to payments required under the proposed settlement, Enbridge has already reimbursed the government for $57.8 million in cleanup costs from the Marshall spill and $650,000 for cleanup costs from the Romeoville spill, and reportedly incurred costs in excess of $1 billion for required cleanup activities relating to the spills, the agencies said. Enbridge was held responsible for the discharge of at least 20,082 bbls of oil in Marshall and another 6,427 bbls in Romeoville. In 2012, the National Transportation Safety Board said the 30-inch diameter pipeline rupture and spill in the Kalamazoo River in Marshall was the most expensive onshore oil spill in U.S. history (see Daily GPI,July 16, 2012).
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EPA Gives Leach, Rayne XPress DEIS A Thumbs-Down
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in comments filed with FERC on Monday that the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Columbia Pipeline Group Inc.’s Leach and Rayne XPress pipeline projects is insufficient, recommending that additional information be included in the final version.
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects MATS Appeal
In a decision that creates an unusual victory for both the Obama administration and the natural gas industry, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined a long-running request by 24 states and various energy and business groups to overturn a rule limiting mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants.
EPA Targets Oil and Gas Emissions With Three Final Rules, Notice
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a final rule covering certain oil and gas production and processing segments either located within, or expanding on tribal lands.
DC Circuit Delays EPA’s Clean Power Case, Calls for Full Court Review
In a surprise move, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit this week canceled the traditional three-judge hearing in a case that could decide the fate of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP), its landmark rule to limit carbon dioxide CO2 emissions from the nation’s power sector.
DC Circuit Delays EPA’s Clean Power Case, Calls for Full Court Review
In a surprise move, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit this week canceled the traditional three-judge hearing in a case that could decide the fate of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP), its landmark rule to limit carbon dioxide CO2 emissions from the nation’s power sector.
Oil, NatGas Leading Source of Methane Emissions, EPA Reports
The oil/natural gas industry remains the largest source of U.S. methane emissions, according to the latest survey from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was released Friday. Oil/gas emissions are now pegged at being 34% higher than previous EPA estimates.
Oil, NatGas Leading Source of Methane Emissions, EPA Reports
The oil/natural gas industry remains the largest source of U.S. methane emissions, according to the latest survey from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was released Friday. Oil/gas emissions are now pegged at being 34% higher than previous EPA estimates.
EPA Fines Williams For 2015 Pipeline Rupture in West Virginia
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collected a $14,440 fine from Williams Ohio Valley Midstream for a violation of the federal Clean Water Act after a four-inch diameter pipeline ruptured in its natural gas gathering and processing system in Marshall County, WV.
EPA Draft Indicates Methane Emissions Rise Since 2013, Except for NatGas Transmission, Storage
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday issued a draft U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, highlighting that methane emissions are higher than in 2013 but have fallen in natural gas transmission, distribution and storage systems.
