EPA v. PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS, INC.

Case summary

NATURE OF THE CASE: PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS, INC. (PHI) OWNS AND OPERATES A FLEET OF APPROX. 450 HELICOPTERS WHICH TRANSPORTS PASSENGERS, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT TO VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS. PHI'S CENTRAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR FACILITY IS LOCATED AT LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT. THE FACILITY GENERATES POLLUTANTS WHICH ARE DISCHARGED IN- TO THE VERMILLION RIVER. SINCE PHI'S OPERATIONS BEGAN IN 1977, IT HAS BEEN DISCHARGING INTO NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES W/O AN NPDES PERMIT. THE REGION REQUESTS THAT A CONSENT DECREE BE NEGOTIATED TO INCL.: (1) A CONS- TRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE DONE ON THE PRESENT TREATMENT SYSTEM; (2) INTERIM LIMITS, AND; (3) A CIVIL PENALTY IN THE AMT. OF $34,250 FOR PAST VIOLATIONS CAUSE OF ACTION: THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY IS INVOLVED PRI- MARILY W/THE DEGREASING AND PAINT STRIPPING OF HELICOPTER PARTS. THE SOLVENTS USED DURING THE PROCESS CAUSE CONTAM- INATED WATER TO DRAIN INTO THE STORMWATER SEWER SYSTEM. THE STORMWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM, WHICH IS DESIGNATED FOR UNCONTAMINATED WATER, EMPTIES INTO THE VERMILLION RIVER. REIGION VI AND THE LOUISIANA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALI- TY JOINTLY BECAME AWARE OF PHI'S UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGES THROUGH A CITIZEN'S COMPLAINT. SAMPLES TAKEN IN NOVEMBER 1983 AND FEBRUARY 1984 BY LDEQ CONTAINED ORGANIC SOLVENTS, INCL. BENZENE, EDC, TOLUENE AND CHLOROFORM. THE STATE ISSUED A COMPLIANCE ORDER 3/9/84 TO ADDRESS THE FACILITY'S PROBLEMS, AND ALSO PROVIDED INTERIM LIMITS FOR VARIOUS POLLUTANTS. IN MARCH AND APRIL 1984 PHI INSTALLED A TEMP- ORARY WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND HIRED A CONSULTING FIRM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FACILITY NEEDS TO BE EXPAND- ED. PHI ALSO SUBMITTED A COMPLETED NPDES PERMIT APPLICA- TION TO EPA ON 5/11/84.

Defendants (1)

• PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS INCORPORATED

  113 BORMAN DRIVE, LAFAYETTE, LA, 705080000

  Registry ID: 110000794267

Statutes cited

• CWA 402 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS, INC.entered 1986-03-04

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $100,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1984-06-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1984-08-22Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1984-08-24Complaint Filed With Court
• 1986-03-04Concluded
• 1986-03-04Enforcement Action Closed
• 1986-03-04Final Order Lodged
• 1986-03-04Final Order Entered