Stone Energy Corporation Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

2012-08-27

The Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Stone Energy Corporation of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, $7,055 for violating federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the federal Clean Water Act.

A January 25, 2012, EPA inspection of its Main Pass 21 oil production facility located in Venice, Louisiana, revealed the facility had failed to conduct inspections in accordance with SPCC regulations. The inspection also found the facility’s SPCC plan did not discuss flowline high pressure devices and well shut-in valves as well as adequate protection of sub-marine piping against environmental stresses.

SPCC regulations require onshore oil production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and countermeasures to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality since a spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency