EPA v. WILLIAMS MID-CONTINENT FRACTIONATION AND STORAGE LLC (NC)

Case summary

REFERRAL REQUESTING INCLUSION IN REGION 3 DIRECT REFERRAL DATED 3/14/2016 Public Notice already issued on 4/21/2023 Williams and Harvest failed to comply with multiple volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant emission control requirements under several New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants applicable to natural gas processing plants, including failure to comply with Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) requirements, failure to comply with enclosed combustor testing, and failure to control VOC emissions from open ended lines and pressure relief devices. Williams also failed to comply with the NSPS for synthetic organic chemical manufacturing distillation units and NSPS requirements applicable to hot oil process heaters and storage tanks at certain natural gas processing plants covered by the settlement. Williams and Harvest also violated provisions of their Clean Air Act construction and operating permits related to operation of a flare at the Ignacio Gas Plant on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The settlement requires Williams to pay a $3.75 million civil penalty, strengthen its leak detection and repair (LDAR) practices at the 15 natural gas processing plants, and perform equipment leak monitoring and repair leaks at 80 natural gas compressor stations that are not otherwise subject to LDAR requirements. In addition, the settlement requires Harvest to implement a flare monitoring project at the Ignacio Gas Plant on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

Defendants (9)

• WILLIAMS MID-CONTINENT FRACTIONATION & STORAGE LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WILLIAMS COMPANIES INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• BARGATH LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• DISCOVERY PRODUCER SERVICES LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• UTICA EAST OHIO MIDSTREAM LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WILLIAMS FIELD SERVICES COMPANY, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WILLIAMS MOBILE BAY PRODUCER SERVICES, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• WILLIAMS OHIO VALLEY MIDSTREAM LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• HARVEST FOUR CORNERS, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• MID-CONTINENT FRACT. & STOR. - CONWAY FRACT. (AIR)

  1407 5TH AVE, MCPHERSON, KS, 67460

  Registry ID: 110000579525

• MID-CONTINENT FRACT. & STOR. - CONWAY FRACT. (AIR)

  1407 5TH AVE, MCPHERSON, KS, 67460

  Registry ID: 110000579525

Statutes cited

• CAA 111 — New Source Performance Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• WILLIAMS MID-CONTINENT FRACTIONATION AND STORAGE LLC (NC)entered 2023-12-27

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $311,850

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2019-06-17Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2019-06-20Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2023-04-20Final Order Lodged
• 2023-04-20Complaint Filed With Court
• 2023-12-27Final Order Entered