The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into a settlement with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco), under which the company has agreed to test for and cleanup soil and groundwater contamination related to waste disposal at numerous compressor stations along its natural gas pipeline, which traverses 12 states from Texas to New York. In addition, the company will cleanup polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination, complete a storm water monitoring program, conduct storm water sampling at several compressor stations and pay a $1.4 million civil penalty.

"This settlement resolves Transco's past illegal disposal practices and commits the company to a comprehensive testing and cleanup program that will protect public health and the environment," said Sylvia Lowrance, EPA's Acting Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

"This settlement will result in consistent, high quality cleanups along the length of the pipeline," said Tom Sansonetti, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Transco's willingness to work with EPA and its agreement to perform the necessary cleanup proved beneficial to all parties and the environment."

The Transco settlement is part of a long history of EPA enforcement activities in the natural gas industry related to PCBs and hazardous wastes. Past enforcements were brought against Texas Eastern Gas Pipeline Company; Transwestern Gas Pipeline Company; Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company; and Columbia Gas Pipeline Corporation. These settlements also addressed PCB and hazardous waste cleanups along natural gas pipelines.