On November 1, three states and two federal agencies announced a settlement agreement with midstream energy company MPLX LP (MPLX) to strengthen air pollution controls at natural gas processing plants in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, and Oklahoma. Signatories to the agreement are the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, States of Oklahoma and West Virginia, U.S. EPA, and U.S. Department of Justice.
As part of the settlement, MPLX will install equipment to control volatile organic compound emissions from truck loading operations at two natural gas compressor stations and pay a $925,000 penalty. The settlement addresses emissions from equipment leaks, pressure relief devices, storage tanks, truck and railcar loading, combustion devices, and process heaters at 20 processing plants.
The agreement, which has been filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, is subject to public comment for 30 following publication in the Federal Register. For more information, visit EPA’s website.
