EPA v. WILLIAMS COMPANY GLOBAL (National Case) (NLP)

Case summary

Williams will pay a $3,750,000 civil penalty. This global settlement is part of a line of EPA-developed cases addressing noncompliance with LDAR requirements at natural gas processing plants. This case involves Williams, seven Williams subsidiaries, and Harvest. Williams is a publicly traded company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Williams Defendants own and/or operate 14 of the 15 natural gas processing plants subject to the Consent Decree. Harvest operates the Ignacio facility that is located on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in Colorado. Harvest acquired the Ignacio facility from one of the Williams Defendants in 2018. Harvest is a subsidiary of Harvest Midstream Company. The Defendants gather, treat, compress, process, transport, and market natural gas. The Defendants also produce and transport natural gas liquids. Williams is one of the largest natural gas processors and natural gas liquids producers in the United States. The terms of this settlement include a 5-year enhanced leak detection program, applicability of NSPS Subpart NNN to applicable affected facilities, and mitigation projects. The injunctive relief will reduce 638 tons per year of VOCs. The Consent Decree includes two mitigation projects. One of the projects will reduce emissions by over 130 tons per year of VOCs and 1,174 tons per year of methane.

Defendants (1)

• WILLIAMS COMPANY - KENSINGTON & HARRISON HUBNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (3)

• WILLIAMS HARRISON HUB FRACTIONATION PLANT

  37905 CRIMM RD., SCIO, OH, 43988

  Registry ID: 110070059245

• WILLIAMS HARRISON HUB FRACTIONATION PLANT

  37905 CRIMM RD., SCIO, OH, 43988

  Registry ID: 110070059245

• KENSINGTON GAS PROCESSING PLANT

  11543 SR 644, KENSINGTON, OH, 44427

  Registry ID: 110058895370

Statutes cited

• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• WILLIAMS COMPANY GLOBAL (National Case) (NLP)entered 2023-12-27

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $77,963

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2019-09-16Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2019-09-24Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2023-04-20Final Order Lodged
• 2023-04-20Complaint Filed With Court
• 2023-12-27Final Order Entered