EPA v. CHESAPEAKE APPLACHIA, LLC (SMOKEHOUSE & KERMIT FACILITIES)

Case summary

THE REGIONAL JUDICIAL OFFICER ISSUED A FINAL ORDER ON FEBRUARY 3, 2016, ACCEPTING THE CONSENT AGREEMENT TO COMMENCE AND SETTLE VIOLATIONS OF CAA SECTION 112(r)(7) IN CONNECTION WITH THE STORAGE OF LIQUIEFIED NATURAL GAS AND CONDENSATE AT THE SMOKEHOUSE COMPRESSOR STATION IN CHAMPMANVILLE, LOGAN COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE KERMIT COMPRESSOR STATION IN KERMIT, MINGO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. RESPONDENT CHESAPEAKE APPLACHIA, LLC, IS THE OWNER OF THE TWO PLANTS. THE NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS RECEIVE NATURAL GAS FROM WELLS SITES, MECHANICALLY REMOVE LIQUIDS, COMPRESS THE GASES, REMOVE THE NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS, AND ROUTE THE PROCESSED NATURAL GAS INTO AN INTERSTATE GAS PIPELINE SYSTEM. CHESAPEAKE APPLACHIA FAILED TO ENSURE THAT IS TORAGE OF LIQUEFIELD PETROLEUM GAS AND CONDENSATE IN BULLET TANKS AND ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS WAS CONSISTENT WITH INDUSTRY SAFETY STANDARDS FOR FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. ON DECEMBER 17, 2014, CHESAPEAKE APPLACHIA ENTERED INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND ORDER ON CONSENT WITH EPA TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS WITH FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, AND SUBMITTED IT COMPLETION REPORT FOR THE WORK ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2015, WHICH EPA APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 9, 2015. IN SETTLEMENT, CHESAPEAKE APPLACHIA, LLC HAS AGREED TO PAY A CASH PENALTY OF 98,550.

Defendants (1)

• CHESAPEAKE APPLACHIA, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• KERMIT COMPRESSOR STATION

  262 VIRGINIA AVE, KERMIT, WV, 25674

  Registry ID: 110038363598

• SMOKEHOUSE COMPRESSOR STATION

  68 COMPRESSOR STATION ROAD, CHAPMANVILLE, WV, 25508

  Registry ID: 110041623525

Statutes cited

• CAA 112[R][1] — Prevention of Accidental Release/General Duty Clause
• CAA 112[R][7] — Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs)

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CHESAPEAKE APPLACHIA, LLC (SMOKEHOUSE & KERMIT FACILITIES)entered 2016-02-03

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $98,550

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2016-02-03Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2016-02-03Final Order Issued
• 2016-02-22Enforcement Action Data Entered