The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has resolved a dispute with Switzerland-headquartered Transocean for alleged violations of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) in the Gulf of Mexico and the federal Clean Water Act (CWA).
The complaint alleged that Transocean did not obtain coverage under the relevant general permit before discharging, discharged pollutants in excess of effluent limits, and submitted inaccurate discharge monitoring reports, among other violations. As a result, the company will pay a civil penalty of $507,000.
As part of the settlement, Transocean has to comply with the CWA and its implementing regulations, as well as the general permit.
“To achieve compliance, Transocean must continue development and implementation procedures to track its vessels and mobile facilities engaged in oil and gas exploration and production activities in the Gulf, submit timely and accurate reports, and perform all required inspections and monitoring. In addition, Transocean is required to establish procedures for cooling water intakes that ensure fish and other aquatic species do not become trapped in filter screens,” EPA said.
The settlement also requires Transocean to hire a third-party auditor to review compliance plans and demonstrate to EPA that it has completed all third-party audit corrective actions and also must submit annual reports to EPA to demonstrate compliance.
“The Gulf of Mexico remains a critical natural resource for coastline communities and for marine life, safeguarding this resource has been one of the Biden Administration’s top priorities,” said regional administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “In 2022, EPA invested $53m towards the Gulf of Mexico to improve water quality, restore habitats, enhance community resilience, and increase environmental education in communities. By enforcing Clean Water Act standards and by funding restoration projects, we continue to protect one of our nation’s oldest resources and hold companies accountable for failing to compile with environmental laws,” she added.
Adis, when did the illegal discharging actually occur? And was the vessel under contract at that time?