Inferno Energy, LLC - Clean Water Act Public Notice
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
In accordance with Section 311(b)(6)(c) of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1321(b)(6)(C), and 40 C.F.R. § 22.45 of the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation/Termination or Suspension of Permits (“Consolidated Rules”), the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against Inferno Energy, LLC, for alleged violations stemming from an unauthorized discharge of oil in or onto navigable waters of the United States in violation of Section 311(b)(3) and failure to fully prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (“SPCC”) plan that met the requirements of Section 311(j) of the CWA and implementing regulations for both found at 40 C.F.R. Part 110 and 112.
Under Section 311(b)(6)(B)(ii) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii), the EPA is authorized to issue orders assessing civil penalties for various violations of the CWA. The EPA may issue such orders after filing a Complaint commencing either a Class I or Class II penalty proceeding. In this case, the EPA is providing notice of the proposed assessment of a Class II civil penalty pursuant to Section 311(b)(6)(B)(ii) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii). Class II proceedings are conducted under the EPA’s Consolidated Rules, 40 C.F.R. Part 22.
In this case, the EPA alleges that the Respondent had an unauthorized discharge of oil from the Respondent’s oil production facility in Allen County, Kansas near the city of Humboldt, into an unnamed tributary adjacent to the facility. The oil flowed through the unnamed tributary through an impoundment and then into Slack Creek. Slack Creek and its tributaries are subject to the jurisdiction of the CWA. The EPA also alleges the Respondent failed to fully prepare and implement an SPCC plan in violation of 40 C.F.R § 112.3, 112.7, and 112.9. Respondent has reached agreement with the EPA on the terms of a proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order which would resolve this matter. Under the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order, Respondent will pay a civil penalty of $50,000. Final approval of the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order is subject to the requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 22.45.
The EPA will receive written comments on the proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice. All such comments shall be submitted to the Regional Hearing Clerk at the address provided below. The procedures by which the public may submit written comments on a proposed Class II order or participate in a Class II proceeding, and the procedures by which a respondent may request a hearing, are set forth in the Consolidated Rules. Persons wishing to obtain additional information on the proceeding, receive a copy of the EPA’s Consolidated Rules, review the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order, comment upon the proposed penalty assessment, or otherwise participate in the proceeding should contact Regional Hearing Clerk, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, at [email protected] or 913-551-7972. Please reference Docket No. CWA-07-2023-0078. For technical questions contact Mark Aaron, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, at [email protected] or 913-551-7205. Persons with legal questions may contact Adam Hilbert, Office of Regional Counsel, at hilbert.adam@epa.gov or 913-551-7113. In order to provide opportunity for public comment, the EPA will issue no final order assessing a penalty in this proceeding prior to forty (40) days from the date of this notice.
| 2023.03.20 Date |
/s/ Wendy Lubbe for David Cozad Director Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division U.S. EPA, Region 7 |
Summary
The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against Inferno Energy, LLC, for alleged violations stemming from an unauthorized discharge of oil in or onto navigable waters of the United States in violation of Section 311(b)(3) and failure to fully prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure plan that met the requirements of Section 311(j) of the CWA and implementing regulations for both found at 40 C.F.R. Part 110 and 112.
Program/Statute: Clean Water Act (CWA)
Applicant/Respondent(s):
Inferno Energy, LLC
2000th St
Humboldt, Kansas 66783
Proposed action: Public Notice of Clean Water Act Administrative Penalty Settlement
Docket ID: CWA-07-2023-0078