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Kinder Morgan to pay penalty and improve accident prevention and preparedness at natural gas plants in Casper and Douglas, Wyoming

Release Date: 09/20/2012
Contact Information: David Cobb 303-312-6592, cobb.david@epa.gov; Mathew Allen 303-312-6085 allen.matthew@epa.gov

Kinder Morgan to pay penalty and improve accident prevention and preparedness at natural gas plants in Casper and Douglas, Wyoming

Natural gas processor will pay $316K penalty, improve risk management and maintenance

Contact: David Cobb 303-312-6592, cobb.david@epa.gov; Mathew Allen 303-312-6085 allen.matthew@epa.gov

(Denver, Colo. – September 20, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced two Clean Air Act settlements with Kinder Morgan Upstream LLC in which the company has agreed to pay a total of $316,000 in penalties for violating Risk Management Plan provisions at natural gas plants in Casper and Douglas, Wyoming. In addition, the company has agreed to establish new operating procedures, improve equipment maintenance, and perform integrity tests on pressure vessels to reduce the possibility of an accidental release of hazardous chemicals at both facilities.

“Companies that use chemicals and substances which pose a potential danger are responsible for having a robust risk management program in place,” said Mike Gaydosh, director of EPA’s enforcement program in Denver. “Failure to do so places the environment, employees, and nearby communities at risk.”

Under the Clean Air Act, facilities that contain hazardous and flammable substances above specified thresholds must develop and submit a risk management plan to assist with emergency preparedness, chemical release prevention, and minimization of releases that occur. EPA inspectors found that the Kinder Morgan facilities had not adequately implemented those regulations.

For more information on the Clean Air Act and risk management requirements: https://www.epa.gov/oem/content/rmp/