EPA v. ESCAMBIA OPERATING COMPANY

Case summary

4/20/12 - ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE ORDER ISSUED. ALLEGATIONS: ON JAN 20, 2011, EPA INSPECTORS CONDUCTED AN AIR COMPLIANCE EVALUATION OF THE BIG ESCAMBIA CREEK PLANT UTILIZING A FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED GAS FINDER CAMERA (FLIR). THE FLIR IS AN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY THAT USES INFRARED RADIATION TO DETECT VARIOUS GASES AND HYDROCARBONS. DURING EPA'S JAN 20, 2011, EVALUATION OF THE BIG ESCAMBIA CREEK PLANT, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: METHANE, ETHANE, PROPANE, BUTANE, AND PENTANE, AT THE ACCESS HATCH SEAL ON THE TANK IN THE NUMBER TWO TRI-ETHYLENE GLYCOL AREA. A TOXIC VAPOR ANALYZER (TVA) WAS USED AT THE TANK ACCESS SEAL TO QUANTIFY EMISSIONS. THE TVA SHOWED A READING OF 13,000 PPM. THIS RELEASE DEMONSTRATES, AT A MINIMUM, RESPONDENT HAS FAILED TO DESIGN AND MAINTAIN A SAFE FACILITY TAKING SUCH STEPS AS ARE NECESSARY TO PREVENT RELEASES, AND IS IN VIOLATION OF CAA 112(r)(1). THE BIG ESCAMBIA CREEK PLANT PERSONNEL WERE PRESENT DURING THE ON-SITE EVALUATION WITH BOTH THE FLIR CAMERA AND THE TVA. ORDER REQUIRES: WITHIN 15 DAYS, RESPONDENT SHALL TAKES SUCH STEPS AS ARE NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE RELEASE OF A REGULATED OR OTHER EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, INCLUDING FIXING, REPAIRING, OR REPLACING THE COMPONENTS THAT LED TO THE RELEASE.

Defendants (1)

• ESCAMBIA OPERATING COMPANY, LLCNamed in settlement

Facilities (4)

• ESCAMBIA OPERATING COMPANY LLC

  3888 SARDIS ROAD, ATMORE, AL, 36502

  Registry ID: 110000727697

• ESCAMBIA OPERATING COMPANY LLC

  3888 SARDIS ROAD, ATMORE, AL, 36502

  Registry ID: 110000727697

• ESCAMBIA OPERATING COMPANY LLC

  3888 SARDIS ROAD, ATMORE, AL, 36502

  Registry ID: 110000727697

• ESCAMBIA OPERATING COMPANY LLC

  3888 SARDIS ROAD, ATMORE, AL, 36502

  Registry ID: 110000727697

Statutes cited

• CAA 112R — General Duty/Accidental Release

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ESCAMBIA OPERATING COMPANYentered 2012-04-20

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2012-04-20Final Order Issued
• 2012-06-27Enforcement Action Data Entered