The US Environmental Protection Agency fined four Oklahoma oil producers for violating federal spill prevention, control and countermeasure (SPCC) regulations.
Federal inspections in December and January of the four producers' oil production facilities found numerous violations, EPA's Dallas office said on May 5. For example, inspections and tests required under the Clean Water Act's SPCC regulations did not follow written procedures, and the producers did not schedule and conduct spill prevention briefings periodically, it said.
The inspections also revealed employees at the facilities did not have training in areas including operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges; discharge procedure protocols; general facility operations; and applicable pollution control laws, rules and regulations, EPA said.
It said that the producers and their fines were Lewis Oil Properties of Ratliff City, $1,800; Ronnie Gaskins Oil & Gas of Lawton, $900; N&N Oil Co. of Duncan, $750; and Red Earth Oil and Gas Inc. of Oklahoma City, $700.
The producers certified that all identified deficiencies have been corrected as part of an expedited settlement agreement, EPA said.
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