COMPANY ALSO AGREES TO RESTORE ALL IMPACTED WATERS
Waco Oil & Gas Co has reached a settlement with the United States Justice Department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to resolve allegations that it violated the Clean Water Act and West Virginia law for discharging “dredged or fill material into waters … in Braxton County, West Virginia.”
In addition to a $825,000 penalty, the company has agreed to restore the impacted waters and will provide for “compensatory mitigation” for waters that can not be restored. The company also agreed to a deed restriction to protect the restored waters “in perpetuity.”
In a written statement, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), observed, “Clean water is vital for our communities and the environment …. Today’s action demonstrates that the Justice Department, together with its state and federal partners, is fully committed to upholding the Clean Water Act and protecting this critical resource.”
“EPA remains committed to vigorous enforcement of wetlands protections,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s settlement makes clear that companies will not be allowed to profit from illegally filling wetlands and imperiling the health of the Nation’s rivers and streams.”
Look who’s getting dumped on now ….
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