Energy Company Agrees to Spend Estimated $20 Million in Settlement of Clean Water Act Charges

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Susquehanna River
From The BLT:
An Exxon Mobil Corp. subsidiary today agreed to settle charges it violated the Clean Water Act, pledging to spend about $20 million to better manage wastewater pollution from its fracking operations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice alleged that XTO Energy Inc. in November 2010 discharged wastewater contaminated with pollutants including chlorides, barium, strontium, and total dissolved solids from an open valve from inter-connected tanks at a facility in Penn Township, Pa. Pollutants from the release were found in a tributary of the Susquehanna River basin.
Under the settlement, the company will pay a $100,000 fine and spend an estimated $20 million to better recycle and properly dispose of its wastewater, as well as taking steps to prevent future spills. This includes installing a continuous remote monitoring system, complete with alarms if something goes wrong.
Read the rest of the post here.

A $100,000 fine seems like a drop in the bucket for these companies, but this does serve as a good reminder that when you hear someone claim that there is a loophole that exempts oil and gas companies from the Clean Water Act, they are lying.  Do you think that it really serves as a deterrent for cutting corners in the disposal process?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

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