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Delmarva Power and Light will Pay $40,000 Penalty and Restore Wetlands in National Wildlife Refuge

Release Date: 6/7/1999
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith (215) 814-5543

WILMINGTON, Del. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Delmarva Power and Light Co. has agreed to pay a $40,000 penalty and create new wetlands at a national wildlife refuge to settle a complaint over violations of federal oil spill prevention regulations.

In addition to the $40,000 penalty, which will be paid into the government’s Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, the consent agreement commits Delmarva Power to create 12 acres of new wetlands at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland at a cost of $40,000.

EPA Regional Administrator W. Michael McCabe praised the settlement, saying, “With billions of gallons of oil in storage throughout the U.S., oil spills pose a constant threat to America’s land and water. That’s why safe and effective storage and spill prevention plans are so important. In this settlement, we are also especially pleased that Delmarva has agreed to go beyond the law’s minimum requirements and expand the region’s valuable wetlands.”

In a February 1999 administrative complaint, EPA cited the Wilmington-based power company for having an inadequate spill prevention, control and countermeasure plan for 198 electrical transmission and distribution substations in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

The alleged violations include inadequate assessments of potential oil spills, inadequate written procedures and inspection records, security issues, and failure to designate a person responsible for oil spill prevention.

Delmarva has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations in the settlement agreement, but has revised its spill prevention plan to comply with regulations.

EPA’s spill prevention regulations are designed to reduce the serious health and environmental risks of oil and petroleum leaks and spills.