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Oil Conservation Division Reaches Half-Million Dollar Settlement with Enterprise Products Operating

  Santa Fe, NM – Today, the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department announced a half-million dollar settlement agreement with Enterprise Products Operating LLC for improperly disposing wastewater in Santa Fe and Lea counties on two occasions in 2013 and 2014. 

 

In the settlement, Enterprise committed $300,000 to fund education and training for industry truckers to help prevent further industry wastewater disposal violations. The money will also be directed for education and research promoting reusing and recycling waters from oil and gas. In addition, Enterprise paid a fine of $195,000 that will go toward the state’s General Fund. 

 

“As always, the safety and health of the environment is our number one goal,” said Cabinet Secretary David Martin. “We absolutely welcome energy companies into our state. But when they pollute, that is unacceptable, and we fine them.”

 

Martin added, “Enterprise has made a number of regulatory compliance changes, which will help prevent this from happening again.”

 

Truckers working for Enterprise discharged around 330,000 gallons of hydrostatic test water on and around Santa Fe County Road 57A instead of on private property as prescribed by their permit acquired from the Division.

 

Enterprise violated the second discharge permit by allowing truckers to discharge approximately 300,000 gallons of hydrostatic test water on Monsanto Road in Lea County.  This violation was not reported for several months. 

 

In both discharge events, the source water was fresh water being run through new pipeline, reducing the likelihood of any environmental harm. The Oil Conservation places a heavy emphasis on compliance with permits and its regulations, and regulations under the Water Quality Act.