Aera Energy Fined 98k

Without admitting any wrongdoing, Aera Energy, LLC will pay nearly $100,000 in penalties, fees and other costs as a result of six oil spills in Ventura County, officials announced yesterday. In addition, the company must improve leak detection, according to the agreement.

The spills occurred between March 26, 2006, and Jan. 5, 2008, District Attorney Greg Totten said in a prepared statement. Petroleum or residuals of petroleum reached creeks or waterways in six incidents in violation of state law, prosecutors alleged.

The California energy company is owner/operator of roughly4,300 acres of crude oil- and natural gas-producing propertyand will also will be required to take other actions under thepermanent injunction obtained Friday by the district attorneyin the environmental protection civil case, which was filedagainst Aera on Dec. 26.

According to Laurel McWaters, deputy district attorney, theinjunction requires the company to install a supplemental oilspill containment basin in Canada De Las Encinas, a tributaryto the Ventura River, by the end of this year.

The judgment requires the company to pay $80,000 in civilpenalties, with half of that going to the Ventura County Fishand Wildlife Propagation Fund and the other half to theCalifornia Fish and Game Preservation Fund, McWaters said.
Aera will also be required to pay $4,415 for investigative costs incurred by the Department of Fish and Game, $4,244 as restitution for natural resource damages and $10,000 to the Environmental Project of the California District Attorneys Association.
Aera Energy agreed to settle to “avoid costly and uncertainlitigation,” according to a statement issued by Susan C.Hersberger, a company spokeswoman. She said the companycooperated with the district attorney and takes these matters“very seriously.”

“The spills covered by the settlement were reported immediatelyto the appropriate agencies and thoroughly cleaned up with nolasting impact to the environment,” Hersberger said, addingthat the company continues to make progress in addressing leaksand spills through pipeline testing, inspection and replacementand other steps.
Prosecutors allege that the incidents involved East Hall CanyonCreek, Canyon Creek, Cable Canyon Creek and Hall Canyon Creek.
McWaters said the Department of Fish and Game will continue tomonitor the company and make sure it complies with theinjunction.