EPA v. AMOCO PIPELINE COMPANY

Case summary

1. SECTION 311 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ( CWA ), 33 U.S.C. SECTION 1321. 2. AMOCO PIPELINE COMPANY 5201 EMMETT F. LOWERY EXPRESSWAY TEXAS CITY, GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS 77591 FACILITY: GENOA METERING STATION, 1-45 AND ALEMDA-GENOA ROAD 3. ON OR ABOUT NOV. 10, 1997, AMOCO DISCHARGED APPROXIMATELY 5,400 BARRELS OF OIL FROM ITS GENOA METERING STATION INTO OR UPON THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE U.S. OR ADJOINING SHORELINES IN SUCH QUANTITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED MAY BE HARMFUL TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH OR WELFARE OR EN- VIRONMENT OF THE U.S. 4. RELIEF SOUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTION 311 OF THE CWA, EPA SUBMITTED THIS DIRECT REFERRAL REQUESTING DOJ INITIATEA CIVIL ENFORCEMENT ACTION FOR CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST THE VIOLATOR NAMED IN THE REFERRAL. THIS ACTION SEEKS A CIVIL PENALTY FOR THE DISCHARGE OF OIL INTO OR UPON THE NAVIG- ABLE WATERS OR ADJOINING SHORELINES. THE BOTTOM LINE SETTLEMENT AMOUNT IS $891,000, PROPOSED IS $5,940,000. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES: AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMPUTER ANALYSIS WAS MADE FOR THE I SQUARE MILE AREA A- ROUND THE SPILL SITE. THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE MINOR- ITY POPULATION OF THE AREA IS 41.3% COMPARED TO THE STATE AVERAGE OF 39.4%. THE PERCENT ECONOMICALLY STRESSED IS ONLY 18.5% COMPARED TO THE STATE AVERAGE OF 27.6%. ECO- NOMICALLY STRESSED IS DEFINED AS HOUSEHOLDS EARNING LESS THAN $15,000 A YEAR. THE EJ INDEX FOR THE STUDY AREA IS 4 ON A SCALE OF 1 - 100, WITH 100 AS THE MOST STRESSED.

Defendants (1)

• AMOCO PIPELINE COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• AMOCO PIPELINE CO

  5201 EMMETT F LOWRY EXPY, TEXAS CITY, TX, 775912607

  Registry ID: 110010651277

Statutes cited

• CWA 311B3 — Clean Water Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• AMOCO PIPELINE COMPANY, INC.entered 2000-10-19

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $1,050,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1998-09-18Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1998-09-22Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2000-08-17Final Order Lodged
• 2000-08-17Complaint Filed With Court
• 2000-10-19Final Order Entered
• 2000-10-19Concluded