State regulators fine natural gas company $5.3 million for air pollution
Between end of 2017 and summer 2019, company logged 367 excess emissions in N.M.
State regulators have slapped natural gas giant DCP Midstream with a $5.3 million fine for violating state and federal air pollution laws at its eight New Mexico plants.
Between December 2017 and June 2019, the Denver-based company logged 367 excess emissions in New Mexico, totaling 2.1 million pounds of pollutants, the state Environment Department said in a statement released Tuesday.
The fine comes with an order for DCP to immediately comply with air-emission limits and operating requirements, the agency said.
“Matters like these absolutely confirm the need for the department to finish developing its methane and ozone emission regulations for the oil and natural gas industry,” state Environment Secretary James Kenney said
in a statement. “It is not enough to develop rules and issue permits. A strong and robust compliance program is essential to protect both air quality and communities.”
The company issued a statement Tuesday, attributing the excess emissions to power interruptions, equipment malfunctions and other disruptions at its New Mexico facilities, and contending it reported these problems to the
Environment Department, making it exempt from penalties.
Well before the state issued the compliance order, DCP had improved the efficiency of the eight compressor stations, even with the exponential energy growth in the Delaware Basin, spokeswoman Sarah Sandberg said in the statement.
“We have reduced the instances of malfunctions, upsets and emergency events at these facilities and have been successful in substantially reducing excess emission events over the last 12 months,” Sandberg said.
DCP operates 61 plants and 12 facilities for fractionation — or separating liquid natural gas into various components — in 16 states. It produces about 400,000 barrels of liquid natural gas per day, according to the company’s website.
If companies like DCP fail to comply with air pollution laws, they will emit excessive amounts of volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, a chief greenhouse gas, the Environment Department said.
These uncurbed emissions may affect public health and the environment, the agency said, adding the substances can contribute to ground-level ozone, which is especially harmful to those with respiratory problems, and increase hazardous air pollutants.