The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice have announced a settlement with Ovintiv USA Inc. to address Clean Air Act violations at the company's oil and gas production facilities in Utah. The settlement includes a $5.5 million civil penalty and requires Ovintiv to implement extensive compliance measures aimed at reducing pollutants from 139 facilities across the state.
The settlement resolves a civil suit filed by the United States and Utah, which alleged that Ovintiv failed to comply with federal and state requirements related to air emissions control, inspection, monitoring, and recordkeeping at 22 facilities in the Uinta Basin. These violations led to illegal emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases, including methane.
In addition to the civil penalty, Ovintiv will undertake corrective actions and mitigation projects estimated to cost over $10 million. These measures are expected to eliminate over 2,000 tons of VOC emissions annually and reduce methane emissions equivalent to over 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
"Today’s settlement with Ovintiv will significantly reduce emissions across 139 facilities on Tribal and state lands," said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This provides another example of how EPA is delivering on its climate enforcement strategy."
Todd Kim, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, stated: "The work required under the consent decree will significantly reduce the amount of gas Ovintiv facilities vent into the atmosphere."
The compliance measures include periodic infrared camera inspections, enhanced maintenance requirements, and installation of storage tank pressure monitors at many facilities.
This settlement is part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative focused on mitigating climate change by reducing methane emissions from oil, gas, and landfill sources.
The complaint and proposed consent decree were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. The consent decree is subject to a 30-day comment period.
###
