The Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment – Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Enable Midstream Partners, LP – Ursula Compressor Station (Enable) have entered into a Consent Administrative Order (CAO), as reported by JDSupra.
This CAO, established on July 18th, addresses an alleged violation of an air permit, a crucial point of negotiation in terms of environmental law, particularly for companies working within the energy sector. Enable, as a high-profile natural gas compressor station operator in Sebastian County, Arkansas, has significant responsibilities in adhering to air quality standards and regulatory limits.
The specific nature of Enable’s alleged violation remains undisclosed. However, similar cases usually involve exceeding allowable emission limits, failure to maintain necessary equipment, or not adhering to operational conditions set out in the air permit.
It is vital for corporations and legal advisers to recognize the potential legal repercussions that come with non-compliance in environmental matters. Consent Administrative Orders, such as the one entered into by the DEQ and Enable, illustrate this clearly by calling out instances of alleged failure in environmental best practices. These situations carry not only potential legal liability risks but can also impact a company’s reputation among industry peers and the general public.
As legal professionals, it is essential to stay updated with such developments, as they may set precedents for future environmental litigation. Furthermore, this can provide a teachable moment for corporations to better ensure their energy operations comply with local, state, and federal environmental standards.