[WV Company] 수질오염방지법 위반 혐의로 3백만 달러 벌금 지불해

환경보호국(EPA), 서 버지니아 환경보호부(WVDEP), 법무부(DOJ)는 Trans Energy사에 승인되지 않은 준설선(dredge)의 항해와 재료 투하에 의해 오염된 서 버지니아 15군데 지역의 하천과 습지 일부를 복구하라는 내용의 합의문을 발표했다. T

rans Energy사는 3백만 달러의 벌금을 연방정부와 WVDEP에 각각 나누어 지불할 예정이다. 수질오염방지법(CWA)은 회사가 준설선을 내보내거나 습지, 강, 하천, 다른 수원에 재료를 버리기 전에 EPA와 엔지니어로 구성된 U.S. Army Corps로부터 승인 받을 것을 요구한다.

또한, 벌금 외에도 해당 회사는 악영향을 받은 수중 자원을 재건하고 15군데의 영향을 다뤄야 하며, 강과 습지에 대한 적절한 보상적인 완화를 제공해야 한다. 앞으로 관련법을 준수할 것을 보여줄 수 있는 종합적인 프로그램을 실행해야 한다.

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the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), and Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement with Trans Energy Inc., requiring the oil and gas company to restore portions of streams and wetlands at 15 sites in West Virginia polluted by its unauthorized discharge of dredge or fill material.

Trans Energy will pay a penalty of $3 million to be divided equally between the federal government and WVDEP. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires a company to obtain a permit from EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to discharging dredge or fill material into wetlands, rivers, streams, and other waters of the United States.

In addition to the penalty, the company will reconstruct impacted aquatic resources or address impacts at 15 sites, provide appropriate compensatory mitigation for impacts to streams and wetlands, and implement a comprehensive program to ensure future compliance with Section 404 of the CWA and applicable state law.

Among other requirements, the company will work to ensure that all aquatic resources are identified prior to starting work on future projects in West Virginia, and that appropriate consideration is given at the design stage to avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources. It is estimated that Trans Energy will spend more than $13 million to complete the restoration and mitigation work required by the consent decree.

The federal government and WVDEP allege that the company impounded streams and discharged sand, dirt, rocks, and other materials into streams and wetlands without a federal permit to construct well pads, impoundments, road crossings, and other facilities related to natural gas extraction. The government alleges the violations impacted approximately 13,000 linear feet of stream and more than an acre of wetlands.

Filling wetlands illegally and damming streams can result in serious environmental consequences. Streams, rivers and wetlands benefit the environment by reducing flood risks, filtering pollutants, recharging groundwater and drinking water supplies, and providing food and habitat for aquatic species.

EPA discovered the violations in 2011 and 2012 through information provided by WVDEP and the public and through routine field inspections. In summer 2014, the company conducted an internal audit and ultimately disclosed to EPA alleged violations at eight additional locations, which are also being resolved through this Consent Decree.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 9월 3일]