Marathon Oil, one of the leading oil and gas companies in North Dakota, has agreed to pay a record $64.5 million penalty and invest approximately $177 million in pollution-cutting measures to address alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. This landmark settlement, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Justice Department, marks the largest ever for Clean Air Act violations at stationary sources like oil refineries and power plants.
The EPA emphasized that this penalty underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws rigorously after a period of lax oversight under the previous administration. David Uhlmann, assistant administrator of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, stated that this record settlement sends a clear message that corporate polluters will be held accountable for endangering communities and the environment.
Attorney General Merrick Garland echoed this sentiment, noting that the agreement will result in cleaner air for North Dakota communities while ensuring that Marathon is held responsible for its illegal pollution practices. The settlement requires Marathon to reduce over 2.25 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the next five years, equivalent to taking nearly 487,000 cars off the road for a year.
The violations by Marathon, which included the release of volatile organic compounds and methane, have been linked to respiratory illnesses and climate change. The company, while ranking as a significant oil producer, was also among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the industry. This settlement is a significant step towards improving air quality and reducing harmful emissions in North Dakota.
