PennEnergy Resources fined $2M for failing to capture and control air emissions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), has reached a proposed settlement with PennEnergy Resources, LLC. The privately-owned oil and gas company allegedly violated the Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act by failing to capture and control air emissions from five of its oil and gas production facilities in Butler County, Pennsylvania. According to the EPA, PennEnergy released methane and VOCs directly into the air when it should have been capturing and controlling the gas with specially designed equipment.
As part of the consent decree, PennEnergy must implement projects to assess, modify and improve monitoring and maintenance of vapor control systems, resulting in a reduction of over 8,200 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year released as methane, as well as 150 tons of volatile organic compound (VOCs) emissions annually. These improvement projects are estimated to cost the company $3.6 million. Additionally, PennEnergy will pay $2 million in civil penalties to be split between the United States and Pennsylvania.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance said, “Today’s settlement continues EPA’s efforts to hold oil and gas companies accountable for illegal emissions that hamper air quality and accelerate climate change. Penn Energy will undertake projects to improve air quality and reduce emissions of methane at nearly 50 facilities, providing environmental and public health benefits for Pennsylvanians and demonstrating that reducing illegal pollution from oil and gas facilities is good for communities and the planet.”
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) added, “Oil and gas producers must comply with the Clean Air Act, which is intended to control air emissions and improve air quality and our environment. By adhering to the requirements of today’s settlement, PennEnergy will significantly reduce air emissions from its operations.”
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