By Anna Prior
Exxon Mobil Corp.'s (XOM) pipeline company has agreed to pay a
civil penalty of about $1.4 million to settle an alleged violation
of the Clean Water Act, the Department of Justice and Environmental
Protection Agency said Tuesday.
The alleged violation stems from a 2012 crude oil spill from the
company's "North Line" pipeline near Torbert, La., the agencies
said.
A representative for Exxon Mobil didn't immediately respond to a
request for comment.
The U.S.'s complaint alleges that ExxonMobil Pipeline Co.
discharged at least 2,800 barrels of crude oil, which spilled into
the surrounding area and flowed into an unnamed tributary connected
to Bayou Cholpe.
The $1.4 million penalty is in addition to the costs incurred by
ExxonMobil to respond to the oil spill and to replace the segment
of ruptured pipelines, the Justice Department and EPA said, adding
that the company is completing cleanup actions.
"Oil spills into our nation's waters endanger public health and
the environment and warrant concerted enforcement efforts," said
Sam Hirsch, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice
Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Today's
settlement achieves a just result and furthers our enforcement
mission."
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com
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