LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 19, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and BG Products Inc. have reached a settlement to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at the company’s automotive products manufacturing facilities in Wichita and El Dorado, Kansas.
“It is critical for facilities that store large amounts of petroleum to develop and implement spill prevention and response plans,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “These plans stop costly and destructive oil spills and protect our nation’s water resources.”
According to EPA, both facilities had over 1 million gallons of oil storage capacity and failed to develop required plans explaining how the company will prevent and respond to oil spills that have the potential to reach waters. EPA says that the facilities are on or near the Arkansas and Walnut rivers, respectively.
Under the terms of the settlement, the company agreed to pay a $258,978 civil penalty.
Shortly after EPA’s inspection, BG Products submitted the required plans to the Agency.
Facilities that store 1,320 gallons or greater of oil products in aboveground storage tanks are subject to Clean Water Act regulations that require, among other things, proper containment to contain oil releases, inspections of tanks and piping, and integrity testing of oil storage equipment. Facilities with more than 1 million gallons of storage are subject to even more stringent management and spill response capability requirements.
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