EPA v. KOCH REFINING COMPANY

Case summary

06/29/90: SYNOPSIS OF CASE: KOCH REFINING COMPANY, INC. OWNS AND OPERATES A PETROLEUM REFINERY LOCATED IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. THE REFINERY'S WASTEWATER DISCHARGES ARE REG- ULATED BY EPA VIA NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYS. PERMIT #TXOO68781. THE REFINERY IS AUTHORIZED BY SAID PERMIT TO DISCHARGE POLLUTANTS TO THE CORPUS CHRISTI INNER HARBOR AND THE NUECES RIVR TIDAL BASIN. THE REFINERY HAS A HISTORY FO VIOL. OF THE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS IN ITS PERMIT. IN ADDITION, THE REFINERY HAS EXPERIENCED UNPERMITTED DIS- CHARGES AND\OR BYPASSES OF ITS WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM. IN RESPONSE TO THESE VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 301(A) OF THE CWA ( THE ACT ), 33 U.S.C. 1311(A), EPA HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE ORDERS TO, AND ON SEVERAL OCCASION MET WITH, KOCH REFINING. EPA REG. 6 REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION TO COMMENCE PRE-FILING SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH KOCH REFINING. THE REGION ATICIPATES THE NEG. OF A CONSENT DECREE SHOULD REQUIRE KOCH REFINING TO PAY TO THE U.S. A CIVIL PEN OF AT LEAST $454,000 FOR PAST VIOLATIONS OF THE CWA. HERE TO SCHEDULE FOR ATTAINING CMPIANCE AND PAY STIPULATED PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE TERMS OF THE CONSENT DECREE. KOCH REFINING SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY ENJOINED FROM FURTHER VIOLATIONS OF THE CWA.

Defendants (1)

• KOCH REFINING COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• KOCH PETROLEUM GROUP L P CC WEST REFINERY

  2825 SUNTIDE ROAD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 78409

  Registry ID: 110000504918

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• KOCH REFINING COMPANYentered 1992-02-18

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $500,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1990-05-29Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1990-06-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1991-11-19Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1991-11-20Complaint Filed With Court
• 1992-02-18Final Order Lodged
• 1992-02-18Final Order Entered
• 1992-02-18Concluded
• 1992-03-13Enforcement Action Closed