Notice2024-27780
Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Air Act
Primary source
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Published
November 27, 2024
Issuing agencies
Justice Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 93661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27780]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Air
Act
On November 21, 2024, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed
Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Western
District of Pennsylvania in the lawsuit entitled United States and
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Hilcorp Energy Company, Civil Action
No. 2:24-cv-01596 (W.D. Pa).
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and civil penalties for
violations of the Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations at oil
and natural gas production facilities owned and operated by Hilcorp
Energy Company (``Hilcorp'') in Lawrence and Mercer Counties,
Pennsylvania. The violations relate to alleged failures to adequately
design, operate, and maintain storage tank vapor control systems,
resulting in emissions of volatile organic compounds (``VOC'') and
other pollutants to the atmosphere.
The proposed consent decree covers nine Hilcorp facilities in
Pennsylvania. The proposed decree requires Hilcorp to perform
injunctive relief, including conducting engineering evaluations of the
vapor control systems at each of the controlled well pads to ensure
that they are adequately sized and designed, and complete an
environmental mitigation project. Hilcorp must also pay a $1,275,000
civil penalty. Entering into and fully complying with the proposed
consent decree would release Hilcorp from past civil liability for
violations of Clean Air Act regulations applicable to new and modified
storage vessels and related state law at the facilities subject to the
proposed consent decree.
The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on
the proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division,
and should refer to United States and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v.
Hilcorp Energy Company, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-12372. All comments must
be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date
of this notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by mail:
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To submit comments: Send them to:
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By email............................ <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#daaaafb8b9b5b7b7bfb4aef7bfbfa9f4bfb4a8be9aafa9beb5b0f4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0b0b5a2a3afadada5aeb4eda5a5b3eea5aeb2a480b5b3a4afaaeea7afb6">[email protected]</span></a>.
By mail............................. Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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During the public comment period, the proposed Consent Decree may
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees">https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees</a>. If you require assistance
accessing the proposed Consent Decree, you may request assistance by
email or by mail to the addresses provided above for submitting
comments.
Jason A. Dunn,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-27780 Filed 11-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P
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