[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13523-13524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06366]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Air
Act
On March 23, 2018, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed
consent decree with the United States District Court for the District
of North Dakota in the lawsuit entitled United States of America v. XTO
Energy Inc., Civil Action No. 1:18-cv-00060.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and civil penalties for
violations of the Clean Air Act and the Federal Implementation Plan for
Oil and Natural Gas Well Production Facilities; Fort Berthold Indian
Reservation at well pads owned and operated by XTO Energy Inc.
(``XTO'') on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The
violations relate to alleged failures to adequately design, operate,
and maintain storage tank vapor control systems, resulting in emissions
of volatile organic compounds (``VOC'') and other pollutants to the
atmosphere.
The proposed consent decree covers all 20 of XTO's well pads on the
Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The proposed decree requires XTO to
perform injunctive relief, including conducting engineering evaluations
of the vapor control systems at each of the well pads to ensure that
they are adequately sized and designed. XTO must also complete one
environmental mitigation project, estimated to cost at least $425,000,
and pay a $320,000 civil penalty. Entering into and fully complying
with the proposed consent decree would release XTO from past civil
liability at the tanks systems as associated vapor control systems for
violations of the Fort Berthold FIP relating to VOC emissions from
storage tanks.
The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on
the consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant
Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and
should refer to United States of America v. XTO Energy Inc., D.J. Ref.
No. 90-5-2-1-11656. All comments must be submitted no later than thirty
(30) days after the publication date of this notice. Comments may be
submitted either by email or by mail:
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To submit comments: Send them to:
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By email............................ [email protected].
By mail............................. Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
DOJ-ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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During the public comment period, the consent decree may be
examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. We will provide a paper copy of
the consent decree upon written request and payment of reproduction
costs. Please mail your request and payment to: Consent Decree Library,
U.S. DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611.
Please enclose a check or money order for $17.00 (25 cents per page
[[Page 13524]]
reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury.
Robert Brook,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-06366 Filed 3-28-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P