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EPA enforcement actions in Oklahoma cut pollution, restore environment

Release Date: 11/15/2006
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

(Dallas, Texas – November 15, 2006) More than $4.9 billion in environmental improvements were secured and more than 890 million pounds of pollution were reduced as a result of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforcement activities this year.

A total of $1.3 billion in environmental improvements and 181 million pounds in pollution reductions were realized across the region comprising Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

“We could not have achieved this successful level of results without the teamwork of our state environmental departments,” EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said. “Our enforcement professionals work very closely and very effectively with their state counterparts to ensure a cleaner environment and healthier communities.”

EPA’s enforcement numbers were released today by its Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance as part of its end-of-year report for fiscal year 2006, which ended September 30.

Among the Agency’s enforcement achievements for Oklahoma is working with its state counterparts to reduce toxic air emissions at oil and natural gas production facilities. At one facility, EPA and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality eliminated 1.3 tons of annual harmful emissions.

EPA also helped the state achieve air quality improvements as part of a national agreement with Valero Energy Corp. and Sunoco Inc. These agreements include facilities in Ardmore and Tulsa respectively, and are projected to cut more than 44,000 tons of harmful emissions per year across eight states when combined with 16 additional refineries owned by the companies. The two companies will also spend more than $994 million to make corrections at the facilities and complete environmentally beneficial projects.

In addition to enforcement actions, EPA provided help to more than 7,228 regional businesses and individuals in understanding and complying with environmental responsibilities during the past year.

The EPA enforcement program is a vital tool in ensuring compliance with the nation’s environmental laws and inspiring businesses, governments, and others to focus on pollution prevention. More information on the EPA FY2006 enforcement and compliance program is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6en/06-axn-highlights.html#ok.

For more information about activities in EPA Region 6, please visit https://www.epa.gov/region6.