Two natural gas processors doing business in Colorado agreed this week to multi-million dollar settlements with the federal government over continuous violations of the Clean Air Act that contributed to the state’s ongoing ozone pollution problem.
One operator, which does business under the name WES DJ Gathering LLC, agreed to pay $3.25 million in connection with faulty equipment at three contiguous gas processing plants known as the Fort Lupton Complex, which is about 35 miles north of Denver. The Williams Company will pay $3.75 million and will cover violations at natural gas processing plants near Parachute, Rifle and Ignacio as well in Wyoming. That money will be divided with $2.23 million going to the U.S. government, $307,500 to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, $298,875 to Colorado and $142,500 to Wyoming, according to the EPA’s news release.