EPA v. MID-VALLEY PIPELINE/SUNOCO

Case summary

9/6/11 - REFERRAL TO DOJ. 2/28/12 - THIS COMPLAINT AND JOINT STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT ADDRESSES AN OCT 3, 2008, RELEASE OF CRUDE OIL FROM MID-VALLEY PIPELINE COMPANY'S (MID-VALLEY) IN BOONE COUNTY, KY, IN VIOLATION OF CWA 331(b)(3). APPROX 4,454 BARRELS OF OIL WERE RELEASED FROM THE PIPELINE WHEN A THIRD PARTY'S CONTRACTOR'S BACKHOE STRUCK THE PIPELINE. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE EFFORTS RESULTED IN THE RECOVERY OF 3,648 BARRELS OF OIL IN ON-SIT CONTAINMENTS PITS. A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL, ESTIMATED AT ONE BARREL, REACHED NEARBY GUNPOWDER CREEK. MID-VALLEY, THE OWNER OF THE PIPELINE, AND SUNOCO LOGISTICS PARTNERS, LP AND SUNOCO PIPELINE, LP, THE OPERATORS OF THE PIPELINE, HAVE AGREED TO SETTLE THE CASE FOR $275,000, AS REFLECTED IN THE JOINT STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT. PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE COURT'S ENTRY OF THE STIPULATION.

Defendants (3)

• SUNOCO LOGISTICS PARTNERS LPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• MID-VALLEY PIPELINENamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• SUNOCO PIPELINE LPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• MID-VALLEY PIPELINE COMPANY

  LOCATION OF PIPELINE, FLORENCE, KY, 41042

  Registry ID: 110045463734

Statutes cited

• CWA 311B — Oil & Hazardous Substances Discharge

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MID-VALLEY PIPELINE/SUNOCO (04-2012-C007)entered 2012-02-28

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $275,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2011-09-06Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2011-09-09Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2012-02-27Final Order Lodged
• 2012-02-27Complaint Filed With Court
• 2012-02-28Concluded
• 2012-02-28Final Order Entered
• 2012-10-11Enforcement Action Closed