Kansas refinery fined $2.3 million for oil spill in 2007 flood
BY ROD WALTON World Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
A Coffeyville, Kan. oil refiner will pay $2.3 million in fines and reimbursements for discharging crude oil and diesel fuel into the Verdigris River during a flood in 2007.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Coffeyville Resources Refining and Marketing agreed on a $556,244 civil penalty to settle violations of the Clean Water Act. Coffeyville Resources also will pay approximately $1.75 million to reimburse federal response costs in the river cleanup.
“The settlement with CRRM requires the company to make upgrades to its facility that will protect human health and the environment from future spills,” EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks said in a statement. “In addition to these changes, CRRM is required to pay back the taxpayers for the response costs associated with cleaning up their spill.”
On July 1, 2007, the Verdigris River overflowed its banks and flooded into the refinery. Crude oil spilled out from a storage tank, while diesel fuel and oil water also seeped into the watershed.
Federal officials estimated the discharge at about 2,145 barrels. Coffeyville city officials previously said the flood water and oil mix caused about $15.8 million in damages to the city.
Cleanup costs were estimated at between $7 million to $10 million at the time.
Associated Images:
In this Oct. 7, 2007 file photo, Coffeyville continues to clean up after the oil leaked into the Verdigris River after floodwater inundated the Coffeyville Resources refinery June 30 and left a coat of oil on buildings, vehicles and vegetation in the area after the waters receded. Here, employees of the United States Environmental Services, L.L.C., clean up an auto shop. Tulsa World File
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