EPA v. UNOCAL

Case summary

5/30/2014 - COMPLIANCE ORDER ISSUED. ORDER STATES: AT THE TIME OF EPA'S OCTOBER 30, 2012, INSPECTION OF UNOCAL'S FACILITY, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING VOC'S FROM A PRESSURE/VACUUM SAFETY VALVE LOCATED ON THE TOP OF TANK #33-701-A. DURING THE INSPECTION, EPA OBSERVED THROUGH THE FLIR CAMERA CONTINUOUS EMISSIONS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE VACUUM SIDE OF THE VALVE, AS WELL AS FROM THE PRESSURE SIDE OF THE VALVE. EPA OBSERVED CONTINUOUS EMISSIONS COMMING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE PRESS/VACUUM SAFETY VALVE SIMULTANEOUSLY. AT A MINIMUM, THESE RELEASES DEMONSTRATE THAT RESPONDENT HAS FAILED TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AN AFFECTED FACILITY IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH GOOD AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PRACTICES FOR MINIMIZING EMISSIONS AT ALL TIMES, INCLUDING PERIODS OF STARTUP, SUTHODOWN, AND MALFUNCTION, AND IS IN VIOLATION FO SECTION 60.11(d) OF THE PROVISIONS. THE RELEASES DESCRIBED ABOVE DEMONSTRATE THAT RESPONDENT HAS FAILED TO OPERATE A VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM WHICH COLLECTS ALL VOC VAPORS AND GASES DISCHARGED FROM THE STORAGE VESSEL, AND A VAPOR RETURN OR DISPOSAL SYSTEM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROCESS SUCH VOC VAPORS AND GASES SO AS TO REDUCE THEIR EMISSIONS TO THE ATMOSPHERE BY AT LEAST 95 PERCENT BY WEIGHT, AND IS IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. SECTION 60.112a(a)(3). ORDER REQUIRES: WITHIN 15 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THIS ORDER, THE RESPONDENT SHALL OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE AFFECTED FACILITIES AND ASSOCIATED AIR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH GOOD AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PRACTICES FOR MINIMIZING EMISSIONS AS REQUIRED BY 40 CFR SECTION 60.11(d), AND OPERATE A VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM WHICH COLLECTS ALL VOC VAPORS AND GASES DISCHARGED FROM THE STORAGE VESSEL AND A VAPOR RETURN OR DISPOSAL SYSTEM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROCESS SUCH VOC VAPORS AND GASES SO AS TO REDUCE THEIR EMISSION TO THE ATMOSPHERE BY AT LEAST 95 PERCENT BY WEIGHT AS REQUIRED BY 40 CFR SECTION 112(a)(3), BY FIXING, REPAIRING, OR REPLACING THE COMPONETNS THAT LED TO THE RELEASE.

Defendants (1)

• UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA DBA UNOCALNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• UNOCAL (UNION OIL OF CALIFORNIA CHUNCHULA GAS PRODUCTION)

  12303 ROBERTS RD, CHUNCHULA, AL, 36521

  Registry ID: 110062627885

• HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY

  CR 63 NE, CHUNCHULA, AL, 36521

  Registry ID: 110007235973

Statutes cited

• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNOCALentered 2014-05-30

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2014-05-30Final Order Issued
• 2014-07-02Enforcement Action Data Entered