ELR Citation: ELR 20045
No(s). 03-1697 (D. Or. Feb 19, 2009)

A district court ordered a company to pay a $1.5 million fine for Clean Water Act violations during the construction of a 60-mile natural gas pipeline and certain lateral pipelines in Coos and Douglas Counties, Oregon. Although the company's permit violations were numerous and occurred over the length of the project, the lack of guidance and notice from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a mitigating factor. Further, there was little evidence of serious environmental harm, and there was no evidence of harm to fish habitat tied to the company's activities. And in this case, there was a failure of all parties concerned. In light of this, the government's demands for civil penalties far exceed what is fair and equitable.