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CUC tasked to come up with oil pollution plan
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Posted on Aug 06 2008
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. must prepare and submit several plans to the U.S. Environmental Agency regarding oil pollution.
The plans are “necessary to mitigate the threat of discharge and address the imminent and substantial threat to public health or welfare of the United States,” according to the agreement reached between CUC, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and the U.S. Department of Justice. The agreement was devised after several penalties were filed against CUC.
Under the agreement, CUC must submit various reports, including an oil inventory self-inspection; spill prevention plan; and pipeline repair and/or replacement plan.
CUC is also required to devise a health and safety plan “that ensures the protection of the human health and safety during performance of work,” according to the agreement.
Charles Reyes, press secretary for the Governor’s Office, said the oil pollution plan, along with the wastewater plan have been in the works for about seven years.
“We’ve been working on it and we’ve made a major breakthrough with this plan and agreement,” he said.
Dean Higuchi, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said he could not comment on the agreement because it has not been signed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
