[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86371-86372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25225]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


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

    On October 24, 2024, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed 
Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the Western 
District of Pennsylvania in the lawsuit entitled United States and 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. XTO Energy Inc., Civil Action No. 2:24-
cv-01467-RJC.
    The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and civil penalties for 
violations of the Clean Air Act and the Standards of Performance for 
Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities at well pads owned and operated by 
XTO Energy Inc. (``XTO'') in Butler County, Pennsylvania. The 
violations relate to alleged failures to adequately design, operate, 
and maintain storage tank vapor control systems, resulting in emissions 
of volatile organic compounds (``VOC'') and other pollutants to the 
atmosphere.
    The proposed consent decree covers 30 XTO well pads in Butler 
County, Pennsylvania. The proposed decree requires XTO to perform 
injunctive relief, including conducting engineering evaluations of the 
vapor control systems at each of the controlled well pads to ensure 
that they are adequately sized and designed. XTO must also complete one 
environmental mitigation project, at a cost of at least $1,400,000, and 
pay a $4,000,000 civil penalty. Entering into and fully complying with 
the proposed consent decree would release XTO from past civil liability 
for violations of Title V and the New Source Performance Standards 
applicable to new and

[[Page 86372]]

modified storage vessels and related state law at the 30 well pads 
subject to the proposed consent decree.
    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 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. 
XTO Energy Inc., D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-2-1-12373. 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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         To submit comments:                     Send them to:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By email............................  [email protected].
By mail.............................  Assistant Attorney General, U.S.
                                       DOJ--ENRD, P.O. Box 7611,
                                       Washington, DC 20044-7611.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    During the public comment period, the proposed Consent Decree may 
be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. If you require assistance 
accessing the proposed Consent Decree, you may request assistance by 
email or by mail to the addresses provided above for submitting 
comments.

Jason A. Dunn,
Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment 
and Natural Resources Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-25225 Filed 10-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-15-P