Six years of Irresponsible Dumping of
Wastes in Waters, Cost Oil Industry
Giants only $1.05 Million in Fine
Six years of Irresponsible Dumping of Wastes in Waters, Cost Oil Industry Giants only $1.05 Million in Fine
We often read and see oil spills happening and we are of the notion that things like these happen accidentally. Check out this recent press release by the EPA “Anadarko Petroleum Co., agrees to pay penalty for oil spills in Wyoming”.
Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp., are classic examples of corporate giants who have no regard for the health of the buying public who uses the crude oil and natural gas these companies produce. More than 31,300 barrels of oily water and crude oil intentionally dumped from Jan. 26, 2003 to Oct. 19, 2008 coming from their oil production fields in Park, Johnson, and Natrona Counties. It reached the drainages of Silver Tip Creek and Salt Creek.
These small bodies of water eventually led to estuaries of Clarks Fork and Powder Rivers. Since river and seawater eventually meet at this point, the shorelines around this area became murky and apparently contaminated with the harmful oil wastes as evidenced by traces of oil film and obvious seawater discoloration.
Today, our waters are more contaminated than ever, and because it has become unsafe, we have to provide filtration processors just to make sure our drinking water is potable. In fact, fish and other marine products are unsafe to eat. No, thanks to oil industry giants like Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp. who have contributed largely in polluting the seawaters.
For violating the Clean Water Act, Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp. were meted with a $1.05 million fine and has agreed to commit themselves in upgrading their oil production fields with appropriate oil spill prevention facilities. Accordingly, it will cost Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp more than $8 million to fully implement these plans.
However, unanswered issues are left hanging: Who will clean-up the oil spill mess that these industry giants dumped? Anadarko’s courses of action are for future wastes, but how about the damage already done to the water? Hence, Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp. will be paying only $1.05 million in actual damages, while the whopping $8 million is yet to be realized and will be spent for improving their facilities.
Check out Anadarko’s Anadarko’s Financial Statements for the past three years. This oil exploration giant grossed $11,897.M (2008), $12,408.M (2007), and $8,494.M (2006) alone. The $1.05 million fine is merely a “drop-in-the-bucket” compared to what they earned from Jan. 26, 2003 to Oct. 19, 2008.
This is quite a contrast to how accidental oil spills in Australia are treated and handled. Just recently, the oil spill in Queensland’s Sunshine coast was the subject of a massive clean-up effort. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh stated that the shipping company and the ship’s master should expect to be fined $1.3 million USD and $500,000, respectively plus an estimated $163.5 million USD for the clean-up cost following the environmental disaster. This is only for a single incident and was alleged as an accident. Clearly, Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp., were off the hook for a measly $1.05 million fine and an $8 million promise to rehabilitate; this is for 6 years of intentionally dumping wastes in U.S. waters.
However, the buying public still supports businesses like Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp., by buying the crude oil and natural gas they produce. Don’t you think it’s high time we supported those green businesses who have more concern for the consumer’s health and safety?
There are other alternative fuels: hydroelectric power, used by smaller industries and by homes for heating applications; renewable fuels such as ethanol and bio diesel or other options such as hybrid electric cars that use batteries to store electricity. There must be something we could do to make sure that Anadarko, Howell Corp., and Howell Petroleum Corp. will make good on their promise to rehabilitate. What’s to stop them from another 6 years of dumping toxic wastes, if it will only cost them $1.05 million fine and another promise?
In addition to this information, you may also want to know more about other EPA cases concerning Environmental Fugitives. Personalities who have been found guilty for violation of environmental laws but have since escaped and led fugitive’s lives. See EPA Fugitives.
