[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84625-84626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24532]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Clean Air 
Act

    On October 17, 2024, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
consent decree with the United States District Court for the District 
of New Mexico in the lawsuit entitled United States of America and New 
Mexico Environment Department v. Hilcorp Energy Company, Civil Action 
No. 1:24-cv-01055.
    In this action, the United States, on behalf of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, and the New Mexico Environment 
Department filed a complaint alleging that Hilcorp Energy Company 
(``Defendant'') violated the Clean Air Act, the New Mexico Air Quality 
Control Act, and the implementing regulations for 192 well completions 
in New Mexico by failing to comply with applicable well completion 
emissions control requirements, which resulted in excess emissions of 
greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds. The complaint seeks an 
Order enjoining Defendant from further violating applicable 
requirements and requiring Defendant to remedy, mitigate, and offset 
the harm to public health and the environment caused by the violations 
and to pay a civil penalty.
    Under the proposed settlement, Defendant agrees to pay a civil 
penalty of $9,400,000 (of which $4,700,000 is to be paid to the United 
States and $4,700,000 is to be paid to the State of New Mexico).
    In addition, the settlement requires the Defendant to ensure 
ongoing compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements for all 
of its future well completions in New Mexico and hire an independent 
third party to verify compliance.
    The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on 
the proposed consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the 
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, 
and should refer to United States and New Mexico Environment Department 
v. Hilcorp Energy Company, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-12445. All comments 
must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication 
date of this notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by 
mail:

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         To submit comments:                     Send them to:
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By email............................  <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ee9e9b8c8d8183838b809ac38b8b9dc08b809c8aae9b9d8a8184c0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98e8edfafbf7f5f5fdf6ecb5fdfdebb6fdf6eafcd8edebfcf7f2b6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.
By mail.............................  Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
                                       DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
                                       Washington, DC 20044-7611.
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    Any comments submitted in writing may be filed by the United States 
in whole or in part on the public court docket without notice to the 
commenter.
    During the public comment period, the proposed consent decree may 
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. If you require assistance 
accessing the proposed consent decree, you may request assistance by 
email or by mail

[[Page 84626]]

to the addresses provided above for submitting comments.

Thomas Carroll,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-24532 Filed 10-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P


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