Ovintiv USA to Settle Alleged Clean Air Violations with $5.5 Million Payment, Investment

By Sabela Ojea

Ovintiv USA has agreed to pay a $5.5 million civil penalty to resolve alleged clean air violations with the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency.

The DOJ on Monday said that the settlement also requires oil-and-gas producer Ovintiv to take corrective action and mitigation projects expected to cost over $10 million at 139 of its facilities that would eliminate over 2,000 tons of volatile organic compounds emissions annually.

The civil suit was filed jointly by the U.S. and the state of Utah, alleging that Ovintiv failed to comply with federal and state requirements to capture and control air emissions and comply with inspection, monitoring and recordkeeping requirements from 22 of its oil-and-gas production facilities in the Uintah Basin.

These violations resulted in illegal emissions of volatile organic compounds, which contribute to asthma and increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, the DOJ said.

Volatile organic compounds are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids.

Write to Sabela Ojea at sabela.ojea@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 30, 2024 17:50 ET (21:50 GMT)

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