Marathon Oil, Environmental Crimes, North Dakota 2024

Marathon Oil to Pay $241.5M in North Dakota Settlement

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE

The United States Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a historic $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil Company, resolving Clean Air Act violations at the company’s oil and gas production operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota.

The settlement requires Marathon to pay a civil penalty of $64.5 million, the largest ever for violations of the Clean Air Act at stationary sources, which include facilities such as oil and gas tank systems.

“This historic settlement — the largest ever civil penalty for violations of the Clean Air Act at stationary sources — will ensure cleaner air for the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and other communities in North Dakota, while holding Marathon accountable for its illegal pollution,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

The case is the first of its kind against an oil and gas producer for violations of major source emissions permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program.

Marathon is the nation’s 22nd largest producer of oil based on 2022 data, and it is the 7th largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas industry. A large portion of these emissions come from flaring, an industry practice that combusts but also releases methane, a climate super-pollutant.

Under the settlement agreement, Marathon will implement extensive compliance measures to achieve major reductions in harmful emissions from over 200 facilities across the state. The work that Marathon will do under this agreement will result in the equivalent of over 2.25 million tons of reduced carbon-dioxide emissions over the next five years and also eliminate nearly 110,000 tons of VOC emissions.

“The record civil penalty and extensive compliance measures, including an innovative cap on VOC emissions, set a benchmark for the Department’s enforcement efforts at oil and gas production facilities,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer.

The settlement will have a significant impact on the communities affected by Marathon’s pollution. “Those who are historically overburdened by pollution are the most at risk of being harmed by these emissions,” said Mizer. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing laws such as the Clean Air Act to protect the health of everyone in the United States, including Tribal Nations and their members.”

Marathon Oil Company, Environmental Crimes, North Dakota 2024 - Defendant: Marathon Oil Company, Charges: Clean Air Act violations, City: North Dakota, State: North Dakota, Date: 2024, Sentence: $241.5 million settlement, Outcome: Settlement implemented, Fine: $64.5 million.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-and-epa-announce-2415m-settlement-marathon-oil-reduce-climate-and-health