Matador Production Company, a major oil and gas operator in New Mexico, has been ordered to reduce unlawful air pollution from its wells in the state, eliminating over 16,000 tons of harmful air pollutants. The company has agreed to pay a penalty and ensure compliance with state and federal clean air regulations at all 239 of its New Mexico oil and gas well pads to resolve unlawful operations alleged in a civil complaint filed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED).
The complaint alleges that Matador failed to capture and control air emissions from storage vessels; comply with inspection, monitoring and recordkeeping requirements; and obtain required state and federal permits at 25 of its oil and gas production operations in New Mexico. NMED and EPA identified the alleged violations through flyover surveillance and field investigations conducted in 2019.
“Air quality in the Permian Basin is at risk of not meeting national standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We will continue to work with the State of New Mexico to ensure that oil and gas production operations are operating within the law to improve air quality and public health in surrounding communities.”
Matador will spend at least $2.5 million to implement extensive design, operation, maintenance and monitoring improvements, including installing new tank pressure monitoring systems that will provide advance notification of potential emissions and allow for immediate response action by the company. The settlement requires Matador to ensure that all 239 of its well pads in New Mexico are operated lawfully.
“Matador’s facilities unlawfully released air pollutants associated with several types of respiratory illnesses and that contribute to global warming,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement will not only improve air quality for neighboring communities but also assist with our national effort to slow climate change. It will also help ensure that Matador does not profit from its violations of environmental laws.”
Matador’s compliance with the consent decree will result in a reduction of more than 16,000 tons of pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO). The consent decree also requires Matador to pay a civil penalty of $1.15 million to be split between the United States and the State of New Mexico. Additionally, the company will spend no less than $1.25 million on a supplemental environmental project involving diesel engine replacements and another $500,000 to conduct aerial monitoring of its facilities for leaks of methane and other pollutants.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Environmental Crimes|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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