EPA cites Frontier for surface impoundment violations at refinery

Oct. 2, 2009
Frontier Refining Inc. illegally stored hazardous waste in a wastewater management pond at its Cheyenne, Wyo., facility, the US Environmental Protection Agency charged.

Nick Snow
OGJ Washington Editor

WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 2 -- Frontier Refining Inc. illegally stored hazardous waste in a wastewater management pond at its Cheyenne, Wyo., facility, the US Environmental Protection Agency charged.

The waste was stored in a pond that was neither constructed nor operated properly to prevent and detect leaks, EPA said in an enforcement and compliance action that it filed on Oct. 1.

EPA said other violations of the federal Resource and Conservation Recovery Act that it found during a March inspection related to closing the pond and providing financial assurance for its proper closure.

EPA sought nearly $7 million in fines from Frontier for operating an unauthorized hazardous waste unit.

The order also requires the refiner to take the pond out of service, remove wastewater and sludge, determine whether the wastes leak into groundwater or soils, remove the existing pond structure and contaminated soils, and cap the area in accordance with RCRA requirements for closing a surface impoundment, EPA said.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].