Shell To Pay S1 Million Penalty And Enhance Pollution Control In Puerto Rico

摘要

Shell Chemical Yabucoa, Inc. of Puerto Rico has agreed to pay a $1,025,000 penalty and spend at least $273,800 enhancing its pollution controls and monitoring to remedy Clean Water Act violations. The agreement, embodied in a proposed consent decree, was filed by the US Department of Justice in the Federal District Court for the District of Puerto Rico together with a complaint detailing Shell's recent violations. Shell's facility, which the company purchased from Puerto Rico Sun Oil, LLC in 2001, has a permit from EPA to discharge treated stormwater, process wastewater and sanitary wastewater under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The system is a requirement of the Clean Water Act, which regulates discharges into surface waters of the United States. The facility was not in compliance with its pollution discharge permit when Shell purchased it. EPA and Shell agreed on steps the company had to take to bring the facility into compliance after it was purchased.