EPA v. EUREKA PIPELINE CO AND PENNZOIL PRODUCTS CO

Case summary

THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES THE BASIS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT IN THE SOUTHER DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA AGAINST EUREKA PIPE LINE COMPANY ( EUREKA ) FOR SIX DISCHARGES OF OIL IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 311(B)(3) OF THE CWA, 33 U.S.C. SECTION 1321(B)(3), AS AMENDED BY THE OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990 ( OPA ), 22 U.S.C. SECTION 2701-2761, ( CWA ). THE DISCHARGES OCCURES ON: JANUARY 20, 1993, FEBRUARY 11, 1993, APRIL 22, 1994, APRIL 10, 1994 JUNE 9, 1994, AND JUNE 29, 1994. THE JANUARY 20, 1993 AND FEBRUARY 11, 1993, DISCHARGES WERE THE LARGEST OF THE SIX DISCHARGES. ON JANUARY 20, 1993 A EUREKA FOUR INCH PIPELINE IN WASHINGTON DISTRICT, PLEASANT COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, DISCHARGED AN ESTIMATED 290 BARRELS (12,180 GALLONS) OF OIL. APPROXIMATELY 150 BARRELS OF OIL REACHED TAN HORSE RUN, A NAVIGABLE WATER OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE BALANCE OF THE DISCHARGE REMAINED ON THE ADJOINING SHORELINE OF TAN HOUSE RUN. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON FEBRUARY 11, 1993, A EUREKA SIX INCH OIL PIPE LINE IN SPENCER DISTRICT, ROANKE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, DISCHARGED AN ESTIMATED 250 BARRELS OF OIL (10,500 GALLONS). APPROXIMATELY 244 BARRELS REACHED TRIPLET RUN, A NAVIGABLE WATER OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE BALANCE OF THE DISCHARGE REMAINED ON THE ADJOINING SHORELINE OF TRIPLLET RUN. SUPPLEMENTAL REFERRAL SENT OUT ON 12/30/95 INVOLVING SERIES OF OIL SPILLS IN RURAL W.VA OVER 6-8 MONTH PERIOD. 28 SPILLS OVER A YEAR AND HALF IN BOTH PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA.

Defendants (2)

• EUREKA PIPELINE CONamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PENNZOIL PRODUCTS COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (20)

• PENNZOIL PRODUCTS CO

  601 GRAND CENTRAL AV, VIENNA, WV, 26105

  Registry ID: 110010585866

• EUREKA PIPE LINE CO

  5 MILES FROM THE INTERSECTION OF RTS 15 AND 17, MACFARLAN, WV, 26148

  Registry ID: 110010767296

• EUREKA

  WITHIN 1 MILE OF BRANCH STREAM OF PUP RUN, SPENCER, WV, 25276

  Registry ID: 110010586160

• EUREKA PIPE LINE CO

  2.5 MILES SOOUTH OF GARRETTS BEND, WV., GARRETTS BEND, WV, 25564

  Registry ID: 110010767312

• EUREKA PIPE LINE CO

  8.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MT. ZION, MOUNT ZION, WV, 26151

  Registry ID: 110010767303

• EUREKA PIPELINE CO

  ROCK CREEK RD, WALTON, WV, 25286

  Registry ID: 110010767287

• EUREKA PIPELINE

  CRT 3 OFF CRT 12 ARMADILLO CORP FARM, BIG BEND, WV, 26136

  Registry ID: 110010687239

• EUREKA PIPELINE

  SRT 7 RS HOYT FARM, WILEYVILLE, WV, 26186

  Registry ID: 110010767321

• PENNZOIL PRODUCTS

  INDIAN CREEK RD, JACKSONBURG, WV, 26377

  Registry ID: 110010767376

• EUREKA PIPE LINE CO

  7 MILES EAST OF SPENCER W.V. ON RT 33, SPENCER, WV, 25276

  Registry ID: 110010687220

• CALUMET LUBRICANTS COMPANY LP

  2 MAIN STREET, ROUSEVILLE, PA, 163440415

  Registry ID: 110010261242

• EUREKA PIPELINE

  CITY RT 31/2 WESVACO FARM, CAIRO, WV, 26337

  Registry ID: 110010767358

• PENNZOIL PRODUCTS

  JA SNYDER FARM, FAIRVIEW, WV, 26570

  Registry ID: 110010586151

• PENNZOIL PRODUCTS

  INDIAN CREEK RD J LEMASTERS FARM, MIDDLEBOURNE, WV, 26149

  Registry ID: 110010767367

• EUREKA PIPELINE

  RT 3, SAINT MARYS, WV, 26170

  Registry ID: 110007884600

• …and 5 more

Statutes cited

• CWA 311B3 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 311 — Oil and Hazardous Substance Liability

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• EUREKA PIPELINE CO AND PENNZOIL PRODUCTS COentered 1997-05-08

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $867,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1994-03-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1994-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1996-03-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 1997-05-08Final Order Lodged
• 1997-05-08Final Order Entered
• 2001-08-17Concluded
• 2001-08-17Enforcement Action Closed