BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) – ORB Exploration LLC (ORB) will pay more than $700,000 in penalties and costs to settle allegations it violated the Clean Water Act and state environmental laws due to three crude oil spills.
“This settlement holds ORB accountable for the harms to the environment caused by its oil spills into threatened, sensitive natural areas and requires the company to take important corrective measures including improving its environmental compliance and preventing future spills from its oil production facilities,” Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division said. “I am grateful for the close relationship with our federal and state partners that brought such a successful resolution to this case.”
Under the consent decree, ORB will pay $615,000 in federal civil penalties in addition to $100,000 in civil penalties to the state of Louisiana.
“Louisiana’s wetlands are vital to the state’s economy, communities and ecology, providing protection from storm surges and habitat for wildlife,” Regional Administrator Ron Curry for Environmental Protection Agency said. “Companies must be held accountable when their actions threaten these important natural resources.”
The decree is subject to public comment and will be reviewed and approved by the Middle District of Louisiana Court.