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Martin Operating Partnership, LP, Fined for Violating the Clean Water Act

Release Date: 07/27/2011
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Joe Hubbard at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(DALLAS – July 27, 2011) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined Martin Operating Partnership, LP, in Berwick, Louisiana, $24,450 for violating federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act.

A March 15, 2011, federal inspection of the partnership’s Berwick Terminal in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, revealed the facility failed to construct all bulk storage tank installations to provide a secondary means of containment in the event of an oil spill. The inspection also revealed the facility’s SPCC plan failed to adequately describe training and discharge procedures for site personnel.

SPCC regulations require onshore oil production or bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and responses to prevent oil discharges. The SPCC program helps protect our nation’s water quality. A spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

Additional information on SPCC regulations is available at: https://www.epa.gov/oilspill

More about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

EPA audio file is available at: https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/jul2011.html