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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 1 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 2 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM Objectives Understand what an NEI is, and how it differs from day-to-day agency enforcement Evaluate what specific issues might pose a risk to your business Consider whether a strategic plan would help mitigate risks
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 3 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM The Enforcement Landscape FY2010’s $600 million enforcement budget was the highest in the EPA’s 39-year history EPA’s enforcement budget will increase by $18 million in FY2011 EPA will raise its special agent workforce to 200 criminal investigators The FY2011 budget justification lists six high priority areas for criminal enforcement. NEIs are first on the list
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 4 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM National Enforcement Initiative for Energy Extraction (2011-2013) What is an NEI? A multi-media EPA initiative to address pollution problems confined to a particular sector or source type Addressed through a concentrated enforcement initiative led by national enforcement teams
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 5 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM EPA’s Enforcement Goals NEIs are multi-media. Stated goals are: Clean water Clean air Climate and clean energy » Assure compliance with greenhouse gas reporting rule » Encourage greenhouse gas emission reductions through settlements » Target energy sector compliance with air, water and waste rules Protect people from exposure to hazardous chemicals
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 6 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM EPA’s Real Agenda Carbon reductions given the Administration’s inability to enact a comprehensive climate change bill Injunctive relief for emissions Enhanced environmental control programs Global settlement as opposed to point by point negotiation
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 7 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM Assuring Sector Compliance with Environmental Laws EPA has identified some specific regions and issues: New techniques for oil and gas extraction / air pollution in regions like the intermountain West Impacts of drilling on ground water and drinking water Compliance with federal requirements to prevent pollution Subpart W compliance EPA states that the initiative will: Be undertaken in areas of the country with concentrated energy extraction activities Vary the focus and nature of enforcement with the type of activity and pollution problem presented
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 8 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM “We already have agency enforcement. How is this different?” Typical inspections and audits assure compliance with existing permits and other requirements NEI inspections focus more on permit applicability issues – do you have the correct permits? Did you improperly avoid New Source Review? Are MACT applicability decisions properly documented?
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 9 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM “We already have agency enforcement. How is this different?”, continued Dedicated team of national experts Pre-inspection information gathering Investigation will include detailed Section 114 information requests Process-oriented inspections Interviews with operations, not just environmental staff Focus on areas not typically examined by state agencies For example: Basis for permits “grandfather”/exemption status Modification and construction status
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 10 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM An NEI Case Study: The Petroleum Refining Sector Twenty-six refiners - nearly 90% of the U.S. refining capacity – have entered into Consent Decrees Refiners will spend: $75 million on civil penalties $67 million on supplemental environmental projects $5 billion on new control technologies The EPA claims annual emission reductions of 87,000 tpy NO X and 252,000 tpy SO 2
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 11 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM What to Expect: The NEI Process Section 114 Information Requests Requests to first targets are broad in scope Investigators will hone in on key issues in subsequent requests Historical information on capital expenditures and other data may be requested for 10 or more years – regardless of how long your company has owned the asset Typically have 30 days to respond but extensions are usual Global settlement offer
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 12 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM Potential High-Priority Issues We don’t know what issues EPA will ultimately target Criteria to identify potential high-priority issues: Issues identified in EPA’s NEI documentation Issues EPA has targeted in other sectors and methods used to identify them Common areas of non-compliance across a sector Potential to reduce emissions Potential for penalties Recent enforcement in the sector
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 13 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM Recent Enforcement Example: Oil and Gas Settlement Entered into a consent decree in 2007 for violations at compressor stations in Utah and Colorado. Violations included: PSD NESHAP Subparts A, HH, and ZZZZ State Rules and Permit Violations Penalties: $200,000 in civil penalties $250,000 in supplemental environmental projects $18 million in air pollution control equipment
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 14 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM Potential High-Priority Issues Clean Air Act New Source Review Permitting » Permitting Basis » Aggregation » Ship Emissions Subpart W Flaring and Flare Practices MACT Standards NSPS LDAR Waste Management Waste Categorization Exemption Status Transportation SPCC and Stormwater Permitting
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 15 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM What Should We do to Prepare? Identify company-specific risk areas Enhance current audit protocols catch NEI investigation issues Re-visit and ensure permitting decisions and compliance interpretations/non- applicability determinations well documented and accessible Prepare to respond to a Section 114 Information request Do we have adequate resources to respond? Do we have the data the EPA will request? Train staff, including operations and maintenance on inspection procedures
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Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world 16 © COPYRIGHT 2010 ERM Contact Information Kathryn Burch Kathryn.Burch@erm.com 281-600-1038 Deever Bradley Deever.Bradley@erm.com 281-600-1223
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