November 18, 2016
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) issued a news release noting a proposed enforcement action related to the alleged discharge of approximately 9,000 gallons of mineral oil from a transformer at a West Staunton substation in Augusta County, Virginia owned by Virginia Electric and Power Co. (“Dominion”).
DEQ states that the proposed enforcement action also relates to approximately 13,500 gallons of mineral oil allegedly released from a transformer at the Crystal City substation in Arlington County, Virginia.
The August discharge is stated to have entered an unnamed tributary of Bell Creek and flowed into a farm pond in 2016. The Arlington discharge is stated to have entered Roaches Run and the Potomac River in 2016.
Dominion’s actions to address the releases are stated to have included:
- 8,900 gallons of oil were recovered in Augusta
- 11,120 gallons were recovered in Arlington
- Expenditure of $1.5 million and $4.2 million for response, remediation and restoration at the West Staunton and Crystal City substations, respectively
A civil charge of $259,535 is proposed to be assessed.
DEQ states the proposed enforcement action is the product of a collaboration with the United States Coast Guard, District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.
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