WASHINGTON — ExxonMobil Pipeline Company agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,437,120 for an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) stemming from a 2012 crude oil spill from the company’s “North Line” pipeline near Torbert, La., stated the release.
The U.S.’s complaint alleged that ExxonMobil discharged at least 2,800 barrels (or 117,000 gallons) of crude oil in violation of Section 311 of the CWA, and on April 28, 2012, ExxonMobil’s 20/22-inch-diamater pipeline ruptured near Torbert, spilling crude oil into the surrounding area that flowed into an unnamed tributary connected to Bayou Cholpe, reported the release.
The release continued that the penalty is in addition to the costs acquired by ExxonMobil to respond to the oil spill and to replace the segment of ruptured pipeline, and ExxonMobil is completing cleanup actions in response to an administrative order allotted by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
The company also continues to do follow-up work and to operate under a Corrective Action Order issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, noted the release.
You can find the entire release here.
