EPA v. TORCH OPERATING COMPANY

Case summary

TORCH OPERATING COMPANY AND RELATED DEFENDANTS VIOLATED CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 311 BY SPILLING AT LEAST 1,108 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL AND PRODUCED WATER INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE SPILL OCCURRED FROM A RUPTURED OIL PLATFORM TO AN ON-SHORE PROCESSING FACILITY. THE SPILL CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL NATURAL RESOURCE DAMANGES INCLUDING HARM TO ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES. ------------------------- A Complaint was filed on May 29, 2002. The Complaint named three parties: Torch Energy Services, Inc., Nuevo Energy Company, and Black Hawk Oil & Gas Company. The Complaint alleged several violations, including a discharge of petroleum into the Pacific Ocean that harmed wildlife and habitat along the Santa Barbara coast. The Complaint seeks penalties and natural resource damages.

Defendants (3)

• TORCH OPERATING COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Nuevo Energy CompanyNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Black Hawk Oil & Gas CompanyNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• PLATFORM IRENE

  APPROX. 12 MILES OFF THE COAST OF SANTA BARBARA, SANTA BARBARA, CA, 93000

  Registry ID: 110013711288

Statutes cited

• CWA 311[B][1] — Clean Water Act, OPA
• CWA 311B — Oil & Hazardous Substances Discharge

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Torch Operating Company Consent Decreeentered 2002-07-25

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $179,300 · State/local: $2,820,700

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1999-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1999-10-27Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2002-05-29Final Order Lodged
• 2002-05-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 2002-07-25Final Order Entered
• 2002-07-25Concluded