Search

EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 3/6

Posted on 3/6/2023 by Nick Waldron

US businesses are subject to complex, overlapping environmental regulations related to air emissions, discharges to water, hazardous waste management and disposal, oil spills, chemical management, and more. Failure to comply with all applicable US EPA requirements can result in future liability and civil penalties as high as $100,000+ per day, per violation.

The EPA enforcement actions highlighted below provide insight into how and why the Agency assesses civil penalties for environmental noncompliance.

All violations mentioned are alleged unless we indicate otherwise. We withhold the names of organizations and individuals subject to enforcement to protect their privacy.

WHO: An oil & natural gas company
WHERE: West Texas Basin 
WHAT: Clean Air Act violations
HOW MUCH: $610,000

A helicopter equipped with an infrared camera allowed EPA to spot hydrocarbon leaks from tanks, flares, and a combustor at an oil and natural gas operation in the Permian Basin area of Texas. 

The company must pay $610,000 in civil penalties for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and Texas State planning requirements. The site will also upgrade equipment, review procedures, and conduct tank pressure monitoring and optical gas imaging inspections. 

EPA estimates that the facility’s corrective actions will result in greatly reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and methane. 


WHO: 3 importers of HFCs
WHERE: National enforcement effort
WHAT: Greenhouse gas reporting violations
HOW MUCH: About $900,000 combined 

For allegedly failing to report imported quantities of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), EPA has proposed penalties of $247,601 for a chemical manufacturer; $275,000 for a refrigerant supplier; and $382,473 for an oil and gas company. HFC importers are required to report imported quantities under the Clean Air Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). 

HFCs are commonly used as refrigerants, in building insulation and fire extinguishing systems, and in aerosols. 


WHO: A grocery store chain    
WHERE: Lenexa, Kansas
WHAT: FIFRA violation 
HOW MUCH: $5,374

An Iowa-based grocery store chain was recently cited by EPA for allegedly violating of a pesticide product (disinfectant wipes) in violation of a FIFRA “Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Order.” EPA previously penalized the manufacturer of the wipes for failure to register the pesticide-containing disinfectant product under FIFRA. 

An EPA inspector found the disinfectant wipes for sale in an Overland Park, Kansas store, which led to a FIFRA “Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Order.” The store violated that order, EPA says, by disposing of some of the product without submitting a notification or seeking approval.

The civil penalty amount may seem small compared to the ones above, but the enforcement action shows the wide range of businesses impacted by environmental law and regulations.

EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 3/6   

2023 Complete Environmental Regulations Training

Join a Lion instructor for the next Complete Environmental Regulations Webinar on March 16–17. Get an overview of US EPA’s major air, water, and chemical programs—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to EPCRA, TSCA, Superfund, and more.

EH&S professionals who attend can identify the regulations that apply to their facility and locate key requirements to achieve compliance.  

Prefer to train at your own pace? Try the interactive online course.

Tags: Clean Air Act, EPA Enforcement Roundup, FIFRA

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

The workshop covered a lot of information without being too overwhelming. Lion is much better, more comprehensive than other training providers.

George Alva

Manufacturing Manager

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

Course instructor was better prepared and presented better than other trainers. Course manual and references were easier to use as well.

Marty Brownfield

Hazardous Waste Professional

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

Amazing instructor; real-life examples. Lion training gets better every year!

Frank Papandrea

Environmental Manager

Excellent. I learned more in two days with Lion than at a 5-day program I took with another provider.

Francisco Gallardo

HES Technician

The online course was well thought out and organized, with good interaction between the student and the course.

Larry Ybarra

Material Release Agent

The instructor made the class enjoyable. He presented in a very knowledgeable, personable manner. Best class I've ever attended. Will take one again.

John Nekoloff

Environmental Compliance Manager

The training was impressive. I am not a fan of online training but this was put together very well. I would recommend Lion to others.

Donnie James

Quality Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Hazardous materials shipment rejections bear a big cost. Use this guide to end operational and logistical disruptions that severely impact your bottom line.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.