EPA v. GENESIS PIPELINE / LEAF RIVER OIL SPILL

Case summary

ON 12/20/99, GENESIS CRUDE OIL, LP NOTIFIED EPA OF A DISCHARGE OF CRUDE OIL FROM ITS GATHERING LINE INTO THE LEAF RIVER LOCATED IN SOSO, JONES, COUNTY, MS. APPROX. 5,000-8,000 BARRELS OF OIL WERE DISCHARGED. SECTION 311(B)(3) OF THE CWA, AS AMENDED BY OPA, PROHIBITS THE DISCHARGE OF OIL INTO THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE U.S. ON JUNE 16, 2001, REGION 4 REFERRED THE CASE TO DOJ ASKING FOR RELIEF IN THE NATURE OF A PENALTY AND POSSIBLE RESTORATIVE INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. THIS REFLIEF IS MODERATE DUE TO THE LACK OF PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS. THIS CASE IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS THE LARGEST OIL SPILL IN MS HISTORY AND THE STATE OF MS WILL BE ACTING AS CO-PLAINTIF

Defendants (3)

• GENESIS CRUDE OIL, LP.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GENESIS ENERGY, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GENESIS PIPELINES USA, L.P.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• LEAF RIVER

  LEAF RIVER, SOSO, MS, 39480

  Registry ID: 110018918457

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit
• CWA 311B — Oil & Hazardous Substances Discharge

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GENESIS PIPELINE OIL SPILL (04-2004-C020)entered 2004-07-21

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $500,000 · State/local: $500,000 · SEP: $2,000,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2001-06-12Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2001-10-09Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2004-06-24Complaint Filed With Court
• 2004-06-24Final Order Lodged
• 2004-07-21Concluded
• 2004-07-21Final Order Entered