Noble Energy Inc. Agrees to $73.45 Million Settlement for Clean Air Act Violations
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panemoj/iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Noble Energy, Inc., in connection with allegations that the company had violated the Clean Air Act by failing to adequately design, size, operate and maintain vapor control systems on its controlled condensate storage tanks within the Denver-Julesberg Basin.
The EPA says the violations resulted in emissions of volatile organic compounds, which are a key component of smog and can irritate the lungs and exacerbate diseases like asthma. The EPA also notes that volatile organic compounds could increase risk of respiratory illness, like pneumonia and bronchitis.
As part of the settlement, Noble Energy will spend $60 million on system upgrades, monitoring and inspections, $4.5 million on environmental mitigation projects, $4 million on supplemental environmental projects and $4.95 million in civil penalties.
The EPA hailed the “first-of-its-kind settlement,” saying that it “takes a basinwide, systematic approach to address oil and gas emissions.”
“By working together with the federal government and the State of Colorado to reduce emissions we are doing the right thing,” said Noble Energy Executive Vice President of Operations Gary Willingham.
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