EPA v. DOMINION TRANSMISSION, INC

Case summary

Dominion Transmission, Inc. ( Dominion ) is engaged in the collection and transport of crude oil and natural gas in West Virginia. The proposed administrative action addresses five oil spills from Dominion facilities between September 2003 and January 2004. On September 3, 2003, an unknown quantity of engine oil was released from a natural-gas transmission station in Clendenin, WV. The oil entered the Elk River via an outfall from the facility. On October 2, 2003, a natural-gas compressor station in McWhorter, WV, released an unknown quantity of engine oil from a leaking drain- line into the McKinney Run, a tributary of the West Fork River. On October 24, 2003, a leaking ?drip gasoline? tank in Bridgeport, WV, released approximately 750 gallons of ?drip gasoline?. About 700 gallons reached an unnamed tributary of the Corbin Branch of Booths Creek, a tributary of the West Fork River. On January 22, 2004, a natural-gas well in Jarvisville, WV, released 100 gallons of crude oil, of which approximately 30 gallons reached an unnamed tributary of Temple Creek, a tributary of the West Fork River. On the same day, a tank at a oil well in Jane Lew, WV, released approximately 100 gallons of oil into Hackers Creek, a tributary of the West Fork River. These releases of oil into waters of the United States constitute violations of Section 311(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. ? 1321(b)(3), (?CWA?). The enclosed administrative complaint proposes an aggregate penalty in the amount of $10,850.00 against Dominion for the five spills. The proposed penalty was calculated after consideration of the applicable statutory penalty factors in Section 311(b)(8) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. ?1321(b)(8), including the seriousness of the violations; the degree of culpability involved; the respondent?s history of prior violations; and the nature, extent, and degree of success of the respondent?s efforts to mitigate the effects of the spills.

Defendants (1)

• DOMINION TRANSMISSION, INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• DOMINION TRANSMISSION INCORPORATED

  445 WEST MAIN STREET, CLARKSBURG, WV, 26301

  Registry ID: 110001099775

• DOMINION TRANSMISSION INCORPORATED

  445 WEST MAIN STREET, CLARKSBURG, WV, 26301

  Registry ID: 110001099775

Statutes cited

• CWA 311B — Oil & Hazardous Substances Discharge

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• DOMINION TRANSMISSION, INCentered 2004-09-08

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $10,850

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2004-06-30Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2004-06-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2004-09-08Final Order Issued
• 2004-09-08Enforcement Action Closed