EPA v. TEXACO EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, INC.

Case summary

THE CASE INVOLVES DISCHARGES OF PRODUCED WATER AND OIL FROM THE OIL FIELDS LEASED BY TEXACO, AN INTERNATIONAL OIL COMPANY, ON NAVAJO LANDS IN UTAH. TEXACO DOES NOT HAVE A CWA PERMIT FOR THESE DISCHARGES AND IS THEREFORE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 301(A) OF THE ACT. THE UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGES ARE TO NUMEROUS DRY WASHES AND OTHER TRIBUTORIES TO THE SAN JUAN RIVER. THE DISCHARGES OF OIL MAY ALSO BE VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 311 OF THE CWA. IN ADDITION, TEXACO HAS FAILED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT AN ADEQUATE SPILL PREVENTION CONTROL AND COUNTERMEASURES ( SPCC ) PLAN AT THE OIL FIELDS. THE CIVIL ACTION SEEKS IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO INCREASE TEXACO'S EFFORTS TO PROPERLY OPERATE AND MAINTAIN ITS PIPING SYSTEMS TO PREVENT DISCHARGES. IT ALSO SEEKS CIVIL PENALTIES FOR PAST VIOLATIONS. THIS CASE MAY RAISE ISSUES OF WHETHER DRY WASHES ARE WATERS OF THE U.S. UNDER THE CWA.

Defendants (1)

• TEXACO EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• TEXACO EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION

  5 MI NE (ANETH UNIT), MONTEZUMA CREEK, UT, 84534

  Registry ID: 110010676811

Statutes cited

• CWA 311B3 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 311J — SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations
• CWA 301A — Clean Water Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Texaco Exploration and Production Consent Decreeentered 2002-05-22

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $369,922 · SEP: $478,700

Timeline (12 milestones)

• 1997-09-03Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1997-09-18Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1998-03-26Complaint Filed With Court
• 2002-03-26Final Order Lodged
• 2002-05-22Concluded
• 2002-05-22Final Order Entered
• 2004-06-10Send Demand Letter
• 2004-11-18Send Demand Letter
• 2005-03-22Send Demand Letter
• 2005-05-18Send Demand Letter
• 2007-05-11Demand for Stipulated Penalties
• 2007-06-27Enforcement Action Closed