The Environmental Protection Agency, using new penalty authority, has proposed fines for several U.S. oil companies for alleged violations of environmental rules.
The 1990 Clean Air Act amendments permit EPA to levy administrative penalties of less than $200,000 for violations less than 1 year old.
Most of the oil related cases allege companies failed to meet new EPA rules requiring installation and certification of continuous emissions monitoring equipment to measure sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide emissions from fuel gas lines.
Companies and proposed penalties are Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Yukon River, Alas., $148,096; Alyeska, Fairbanks, Alas., $148,096; Alyeska, Black Rapids, Alas., $148,096; ARCO Alaska, Kuparuk and Prudhoe Bay fields, $97,664; Petro Star Inc., North Pole, Alas., $107,391.
Colorado Refining Co., Commerce City, Colo., $131,700; Star Enterprise, Delaware City, Del., $40,000; Coastal Refining & Marketing Inc., Wichita, Kan., $67,516; Total Petroleum Inc., Arkansas City, Kan., $67,516; Phibro Refining Inc., Krotz Springs, La., $34,000; Placid Refining Inc., Port Allen, La., $80,000.
Marathon Oil Co., Detroit, $26,566; Coastal Eagle Oil Co. Inc., West Deptford, N.J., $110,000; Sun Refining & Marketing Co., Toledo, Ohio., $42,866; BP Oil Inc., Marcus Hook, Pa., $60,000; ARCO Products Co., Blaine, Wash., $117,408; and Sinclair Oil Corp., Sinclair, Wyo., $105,187.
EPA also filed cases against two oil companies for alleged violation of asbestos demolition and renovation standards: Coastal Energy Inc., Wochester, Mass., $35,500; and Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc., Fox, Okla., $60,000.
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