Multinational company agrees to settle alleged Clean Water Act violations

Aug. 14, 2014

LENEXA, Kan. — Facilities storing large quantities of oil are required by the Clean Water Act to develop a Facility Response Plan (FRP) that outlines procedures for addressing “worst-case” discharges of oil.

LENEXA, Kan. — Cargill Incorporated agreed to settle alleged Clean Water Act (CWA) violations at two large oil storage facilities located in Blair, Neb., and Eddyville, Iowa, according to a press release. 

Through the settlement with EPA Region 7, the corporation, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn., will pay a civil penalty of $187,500 to the U.S., stated the release.

Each of Cargill’s two facilities produces and stores more than 1 million gallons of oil, and combined have a total estimated storage capacity of more than 7 million gallons, continued the release.

The CWA requires facilities that store large quantities of oil to develop a Facility Response Plan (FRP), outlining procedures for addressing “worst-case” discharges of oil, noted the release.

“The lack of a Facility Response Plan for these facilities can have serious consequences for humans and the environment in the case of a spill,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks. “This settlement helps protect the communities of Blair, Neb., and Eddyville, Iowa, if spills were to occur.”

You can find the entire release here.