Williams Pays EPA $14K Penalty for WV Condensate Pipeline Accident

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In April 2015 a 4-inch condensate pipeline owned and operated by Williams ruptured in Marshall County, WV following torrential rains and landslides (see 2 Williams Pipelines Rupture in Marshall County After Heavy Rains). Ten days following the break Williams still hadn’t located the rupture which spilled 132 barrels of condensate into Little Grave Creek, a tributary flowing into the Ohio River (see Williams Still Can’t Find Leak in 4-inch WV Condensate Pipeline). Finally, after 15 days, Williams located the break and began repair work to fix it (see Williams Locates WV Condensate Pipeline Leak, Remediation Begins). When you have an accident, it’s costly. Not only will the state take a bite (see WV DEP to Fine Williams for Condensate Pipeline Leak in WV), but the feds want their pound of flesh too. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced last week that a year after the accident they’ve shaken down Williams for $14,440 as a “penalty” for the accident. Under the terms of the shakedown Williams did not admit guilt or culpability–they just paid hush money to make it go away…

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