WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced April 24 that MarkWest Liberty Midstream Resources LLC and Ohio Gathering Company LLC (MarkWest) will pay $610,000 and perform three supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) after allegations of violating the Clean Air Act and the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act.
“This Clean Air Act settlement will reduce harmful emissions from facilities across western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio,” Jeffrey H. Wood, acting assistant attorney general of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, said in a statement. “[This] action also demonstrates our commitment to working with federal, state and local partners to ensure the health and safety of the American people.”
According the Justice Department, the defendants failed to obtain the proper permits for their business activities. Additionally, the defendants purportedly did not keep accurate records related to their maintenance activities. Because of their alleged failures, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were released into the atmosphere.
“Our legacy to future generations will be defined, in part, by our commitment to protecting the environment,” Scott W. Brady, U.S. attorney of the Western District of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. “This settlement agreement with MarkWest demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to improving the quality of the environment and ensuring cleaner air for the residents of western Pennsylvania.”