EPA v. HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY

Case summary

On February 17, 2022, EPA Region 3 (R3) referred to DOJ a civil judicial action against Texas-based Hilcorp Energy Company (Hilcorp), one of the largest privately held oil and gas exploration and production companies in the United States. R3 alleges that Hilcorp failed to comply with CAA general operating permit (GP-5) conditions and failed to obtain a required permit before operating six (6) of its oil and gas production facilities in Lawrence and Mercer Counties in violation of Section 110 of the CAA and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations that comprise the State Implementation Plan for Pennsylvania. These emission sources are located in the Northwest Regional Office jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), which has expressed interest in joining this matter as a co-plaintiff. EPA further alleges that Hilcorp?s violations have resulted in significant unlawful VOC emissions to the atmosphere. VOCs are regulated under the CAA as precursors to the criteria pollutant ground-level ozone and this case is part of EPA's ongoing National Compliance Initiative for Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants from Stationary Sources and is in furtherance of President Biden's directive that federal agencies coordinate investments and other efforts to assist coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities, and achieve substantial reductions of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector as quickly as possible Exec. Order No. 14,008, 86 Fed. Reg. 7619, 7627-28 (Feb. 01, 2021). The civil penalty and injunctive relief that R3 anticipates seeking in this matter are expected to be similar to that sought by EPA in other oil and gas cases being developed and pursued in R3 and in other EPA regions.

Defendants (1)

• HILCORP ENERGY COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (14)

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/NORTH BEAVER - NCDC CENTRAL FACILITY

  3273 HOWARD DRIVE, NEW CASTLE, PA, 16102

  Registry ID: 110070049578

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/PULASKI CARLISLE CTL FAC

  1305 STATE ROUTE 208, PULASKI, PA, 16143

  Registry ID: 110071902950

• HILLCORP ENERGY CO/WHITING CENTRAL FACILITY

  7510 STATE ROUTE 551, EDINBURG, PA, 16116

  Registry ID: 110070386260

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/MAHONING SIEGEL CENTRAL PRODUCTION FACILITY

  326 BAIRD RD, EDINBURG, PA, 16116

  Registry ID: 110067426976

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/MAHONING SIEGEL CENTRAL PRODUCTION FACILITY

  326 BAIRD RD, EDINBURG, PA, 16116

  Registry ID: 110067426976

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/MAHONING BUCKNER CENTRAL FACILITY

  1013 SKYHILL ROAD, EDINBURG, PA, 16116

  Registry ID: 110067528474

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/MAHONING BUCKNER CENTRAL FACILITY

  1013 SKYHILL ROAD, EDINBURG, PA, 16116

  Registry ID: 110067528474

• HILLCORP ENERGY CO/WHITING CENTRAL FACILITY

  7510 STATE ROUTE 551, EDINBURG, PA, 16116

  Registry ID: 110070386260

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/SHENANGO-RADKOWSKI PRODUCTION FACILITY

  201 PULASKI ROAD, PULASKI, PA, 16143

  Registry ID: 110067429116

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/SHENANGO-RADKOWSKI PRODUCTION FACILITY

  201 PULASKI ROAD, PULASKI, PA, 16143

  Registry ID: 110067429116

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/ LACKAWANNOCK LARMON CENTRAL FACILITY

  1840 MERCER-WEST MIDDLESEX ROAD, MERCER, PA, 16137

  Registry ID: 110067429090

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/NORTH BEAVER - NCDC CENTRAL FACILITY

  3273 HOWARD DRIVE, NEW CASTLE, PA, 16102

  Registry ID: 110070049578

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/MONTGOMERY CENTRAL FACILITY

  135 STEISTER ROAD, MERCER, PA, 16137

  Registry ID: 110071902951

• HILCORP ENERGY CO/ LACKAWANNOCK LARMON CENTRAL FACILITY

  1840 MERCER-WEST MIDDLESEX ROAD, MERCER, PA, 16137

  Registry ID: 110067429090

Statutes cited

• CAA 110 — Implementation Plan for National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• HILCORP ENERGY COMPANYentered 2025-01-14

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $637,500 · State/local: $637,500

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2022-02-17Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2022-02-28Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2025-01-14Final Order Lodged
• 2025-01-14Final Order Entered
• 2025-01-14Complaint Filed With Court
• 2025-01-22Concluded