RCP Inc.

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In This Issue

  1. Qualification of Pipeline Personnel: Notice of Public Meeting
  2. Operator Qualification Pipeline Industry Forum January 21 and January 23, 2003
  3. O&M Manual Up-To-Date?
  4. New Pipeline Safety Act – Now Law
  5. DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – March 19-20, 2003 – Houston Includes update on the new Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 signed into law on Dec 17, 2002
  6. Environmental Report Preparation and Post-Certificate Environmental Compliance Training Seminars
  7. Air Permit Needs?
  8. Proposed NPDES General Permit for Storm Water Discharges From Construction Activities
  9. 2003 User Fee Assessment
  10. SPCC Plan Extension in the works
  11. Notification of the Susceptibility to Premature Brittle-Like Cracking of Older Plastic Pipe – correction.
  12. Interested in Web-Based Compliance Management Systems?
  13. Self Disclosure Pays Off
  14. Acquiring a pipeline?
  15. Biological and Chemical Information Charts
  16. RRT VI Semi-Annual Meeting
  17. Pipeline Drug Testing; Random Testing Rate
  18. MMS Workshop International Offshore Pipeline Workshop February 26-28, 2003 New Orleans, Louisiana
  19. NPDES Permit Deadline Extension for Storm Water Discharges for Oil and Gas Construction Activity That Disturbs One to Five Acres of Land
  20. Pipeline Communications Meeting
  21. API Training and Development Conference
  22. New Edition of API Primary Measurement Property Standard

Self Disclosure Pays Off

How do you turn a $1,914,965 fine into a $31,741 fine? Conduct a due-diligence audit, and turn yourself in.

ADT Security Services, Inc. disclosed, pursuant to the EPA “Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosures, Correction and Prevention of Violations” (“Audit Policy”), 65 FR 19618 (April 11, 2000), that they failed to prepare SPCC plans for eight facilities where they stored diesel oil in above ground storage tanks, in violation of the CWA section 311(b)(3) and 40 CFR part 112. ADT disclosed that for seven facilities they had failed to obtain operating permits or exemptions in violation of CAA section 110, 42 U.S.C. 7410, and various SIP requirements for emergency generators. ADT disclosed that at sixty-eight facilities they had failed to file emergency planning notifications with the SERC and failed to provide the name of an emergency contact to the LEPC, in violation of EPCRA section 302, 42 U.S.C. 11002. ADT further disclosed that at ninety-two facilities they had failed to submit MSDS’ or a list of chemicals to the LEPC, SERC, and the fire departments with jurisdiction over the facilities, in violation of EPCRA section 311, 42 U.S.C. 11021; and that at ninety-two facilities had failed to submit an Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory to the LEPC, SERC, and fire departments with jurisdiction over the facilities, in violation of EPCRA section 312, 42 U.S.C. 11022.

EPA determined that ADT met the criteria set out in the Audit Policy for a 100% waiver of the gravity component of the penalty. As a result, EPA proposes to waive the gravity based penalty ($1,914,965) and proposes a settlement penalty amount of thirty-one thousand, seven hundred and forty-one dollars ($31,741). This is the amount of the economic benefit gained by ADT, attributable to their delayed compliance with the SPCC, CAA and EPCRA regulations.

Editor’s shameless commerce plug: We’ll be glad to perform any due-diligence audits that you might need, including audits associated with asset purchases or sales.