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State and local agencies have worked closely with the oil and gas industry to produce the Field Guide to Environmental Compliance for the Oil and Gas Industry. With this business sector growing, environmental regulations changing and environmental technology expanding, the field guide is an attempt to help industry officials better understand the complexity of environmental regulations and create a better understanding of what regulations are applicable for certain business practices.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality recently issued its second Notice of Potential Penalty to Stolthaven New Orleans, LLC, in Braithwaite for alleged environmental violations stemming from unauthorized discharges that occurred in late August and early September. Stolthaven failed to take the necessary precautionary measures in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac, thereby allowing for unauthorized releases to the waters of the state.

The Department of Environmental Quality issued a penalty today to Stolthaven in Braithwaite for $12,189.61. The penalty was issued because the facility failed to notify DEQ of an emergency situation within one hour of the occurrence. DEQ was notified of a release of 1-octene and Ethyl Acrylate from the facility on Sept. 1. The release occurred on Aug. 30th in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac.

The Department of Environmental Quality continues to work with its state, federal and local partners to address chemical releases from the Stolthaven facility located in Braithwaite in Plaquemines Parish. The company will be required and has already begun to clean up any contamination. Louisiana State Police, DEQ and others continue to oversee the cleanup which includes the re-railing of rail cars, on site oil skimming and off-site orphaned drum recovery, which Stolthaven is financing.

Waiver granted in effort to minimize disruption of fuel distribution.

Cedyco Corporation ordered to cease all operations in Louisiana and divest itself of its Hydrocarbon business interests in the state. A Delaware company was fined $557,000 for negligently discharging oil into the bayous of Jefferson Parish, La., the Department of Justice announced. Cedyco Corporation, headquartered in Houston, was sentenced today in federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana.