EPA v. EXXONMOBIL PRODUCTION COMPANY - S. S. LAIRD LEASE

Case summary

1. SECTION 311(B)(6)(B)(I) OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ( CWA ), 33 U.S.C. SECTION 1321(B)(6)(B)(I), AS AMENDED BY THE OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990. 2. EXXONMOBIL PRODUCTION COMPANY S. S. LARID LEASE HENDERSON, RUSK COUNTY, TEXAS 75652 3. RESPONDENT WAS IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 311(J) OF THE CWA BY: 1) ACCUMULATED OIL IN THE SECONDARY CONTAINMENT SYS- TEM(S) IS NOT PICKED UP AND RETURNED TO STORAGE OR PROP- ERLY DISPOSED OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS; 2) SECONDARY CONTAINMENT APPEARS TO BE GROSSLY INADEQUATE FOR TANKS AND CENTRAL TREATING INSTALLATIONS; AND 3) TANK BATTERY INSTALLATIONS ARE NOT FAIL-SAFE ENGINEERED BE- CAUSE NONE OF THE FOLLOWING ARE PRESENT: 1) ADEQUATE TANK CAPACITY TO PREVENT TANK OVERFILL; 2) OVERFLOW EQUALIZING LINES BETWEEN THE TANKS; 3) VACUUM PROTECTION TO PREVENT TANK CLLAPSE; AND 4) HIGH LEVEL ALARMS TO GENERATE AND TRANSMIT AN ALARM SIGNAL WHERE FACILITIES ARE PART OF A COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM. 4. RELIEF SOUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTION 311(B)(6)(B)(I) OF THE CWA, EPA ASSESSED THE RESPONDENT A CIVIL PENALTY OF $1,000 FOR THE VIOLATIONS CITED.

Defendants (1)

• EXXONMOBIL PRODUCTION COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• EXXONMOBIL PRODUCTION CO - C. W. WILSON WELL NO.

  IN RUSK COUNTY, HENDERSON, TX, 75652

  Registry ID: 110010640164

Statutes cited

• CWA 311J — SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• EXXONMOBIL PRODUCTION COMPANYentered 2001-10-25

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $1,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2001-08-09Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2001-08-14Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2001-10-25Final Order Issued
• 2001-10-25Compliance Achieved
• 2001-11-01Enforcement Action Closed