Williams Safety Record The Compliance and Safety Records of Williams (WMB), Williams Partners L.P. (WPZ), Williams Midstream • 2002 – Williams is reported to be in Financial distress and on verge of bankruptcy • 2002 – Williams has class action lawsuit filed against it alleging that it failed to disclose failing financial conditions (33) • 2003 – Williams pays $20 million (along with Encana Company) to settle claims of reporting false data to manipulate the U.S. natural gas market (25) • 2004 – FINED $30,000 for a fire at a well in Parachute, Colorado (47) • 2007 – Williams agrees to pay $290 million to settle class action lawsuit filed in 2002 • 2008 – Natural gas explosion in Virginia [Transco] the blast ripped a 32-foot section of pipe from the ground and caused a 1,100 feet burn zone. Property damage reported to exceed $3 million (35) • 2009 – FINED $952,000 for failure to monitor corrosion adequately with the Virginia pipeline explosion in 2008 (36) (43) • 2010 – Transco Pipeline leak in Texas. Leak was not reported for 4 days. The 1/4 inch diameter leak caused a reported $57,000 in property damage. Aerial patrol did not see the leak. Found by an operator who saw some bubbles. (22) • 2010 / 2011– FINED $275 Thousand over failing to implement and/or maintain storm water measures to prevent potential pollutants during planned construction in Parachute, Colorado. State inspectors notified Williams (Bargath) in Nov. 2010 of violations and told them to take immediate action. According to report, Williams did not fix violation for 7 months. (8) (28) • 2011 – FINED $23,000 by PHMSA for failure to conduct own annual inspections of Natural Gas compressors stations in Texas and Louisiana (18) • 2011 – [Transco] Natural Gas Pipeline rupture & explosion in Alabama. 8 acres burn. Coating failure blamed as cause. Reports state that the corrosion was not recognized by Williams even though they claimed to have systems in place. (2) (36) • 2012 – Gas leak caused explosion at Natural Gas Compressor Station in Pennsylvania. Williams restarts the station within 24 hours and started pumping fracked gas despite request from PA Dept. of Environmental Protection not to do so. DEP states they make it very clear on the above matter but because it was not an official order no fines were issued. 1 ton of Methane released. (2) (16) • 2012 – Transco/Williams FINED $50,000 by PHMSA for failure to follow own internal policies with controlling corrosion in Natural Gas pipeline in NY (18) • 2012 – Transco natural gas leak in New Jersey (18) (44) • 2012 (Dec. 20) – The beginning of the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) pipeline leak in Parachute, Colorado (population 1,000). Parachute Creek runs through the small town, which is nestled next to the Colorado River. • 2013 (Jan) – Williams discovers leak of NGLs in Parachute plant while working on construction to expand the plant. Reports say the leak was found by ACCIDENT. Leak stopped, but Benzene, a cancer causing agent, has contaminated soil. Williams says leak not affecting creek. (8) (34) • 2013 (March 8) – Williams begins cleanup (2 months later) of Benzene leak (NGL) in Parachute, CO. Authorities and landowners notified that the soil has been contaminated. No mention that groundwater is poisoned. Reports say that Williams didn’t report the spill/leak earlier because they thought less than 25 gallons had leaked. • 2013 (March 15) – Groundwater in Parachute is contaminated with Benzene from NGL leak. Spill finally announced to public. Benzene is cancer-causing agent that breaks down bone marrow. (8) (20) (34) (41) • 2013 (March) – Reports say Williams/Transco rejects U.S. Army Corp of Engineers safety recommendations in connection with the proposed Rockaway Lateral natural gas pipeline, claiming the requirements would “needlessly delay” the project and force cost overruns. (7) • 2013 (March) – Williams Natural gas pipeline in West Virginia ruptures (30) • 2013 (April) – Parachute, CO residents question credibility of Williams who is in charge of testing their water and want the government to take over. Contamination continues to spread into their creek. (8) (42) • 2013 (April) – Williams say faulty pressure gauge cause of leak in Parachute. Diesel found at gates of Parachute water supply. Benzene detected in creek. State Health Dept takes over oversight of leak. (8) (9) • 2013 (May) – Benzene levels rise in Parachute, CO creek. State agency tells Williams violated it the law. (8) • 2013 (May) – Williams announces it will not expand the Parachute, Co plant expansion NOT because of the NGL leak but due to low gas prices. (8) • 2013 (May 21) – Williams holds Analyst Day in New York City. CEO Alan Armstrong states they have been working on the Bluegrass pipeline project for about 9 – 10 months. Williams states Bluegrass Pipeline is BIG and it’s RISKY in terms of permitting. • 2013 (June 13) – Williams’ Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) cracker plant that process NGLs in Louisian Explodes and Burns. That chemical plant was in middle of $350 million expansion. 700 contract workers were present; 2 people killed (ages 29 & 47); 70 injuries; 62,000 pounds of toxic chemical released (1) (4) (5) (6) (39) • 2013 (June 14) – Investigations into Williams Louisiana explosion reveals three years of noncompliance with Federal Clean Air Act, Williams had NOT conducted an OSHA inspection in 10 years. • 2013 (July 10) – Williams (Bargath) FINED $7,854 by OSHA for failing to protect workers they sent excavate toxic soil near the Williams’ Parachute, Co plant that leaked Benzene. Report states that Williams did not have a decontamination procedure or ensure its employees received safety training related to the spill. Williams states it has not agreed to or accepted OSHA’s allegations. (49) • 2013 (July 13) – Benzene levels increase at a point in the Parachute, CO Williams NGL leak. 130 tons per day of contaminated soil has been stockpiled. (3) • 2013 (July 20) – Report shows that Williams expects to remove and treat as many as 26 million gallons of groundwater over a half-year to a year at the site of its natural gas liquids leak alongside Parachute Creek. About 155,000 gallons of tainted groundwater removed in March has been disposed of in an injection well in Grand County, Utah. (52) Sources 1. marcellusoutreachbutler.org/2/post/2013/06/spill-baby-spill.html 2. saneenergyproject.org/2013/07/10/williams-safety-record/ 3. postindependent/news/7293598-113/spill-creek-parachute-benzene 4. nola/environment/index.ssf/2013/06/geismar_plant_explosion_leaks.html 5. dailyworld/viewart/20130628/NEWS01/306280004/Report-Geismar-chemical- plant-explosion-released-toxic-chemicals 6. tulsaworld/article.aspx/Williams_Cos_feds_seek_answers_in_deadly_plant_explo sion/20130618_49_E1_Willia284464 7. carpny.org/the-pipeline/ naturalgaswatch.org/?p=1818 8. conservationco.org/2013/05/whats-going-on-in-parachute-creek/ 9. leak photos: colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content- Disposition&blobheadername2=Content- Type&blobheadervalue1=inline%3B+filename%3D%22Natural+Gas+Liquids+Release+Photogra phs.pdf%22&blobheadervalue2=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwh ere=1251855888603&ssbinary=true 10. b2i.us/profiles/investor/NewsPrint.asp?b=630&ID=62970&m=rl&pop=1&cat=1799& G=343 11. ht
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:59:20 +0000
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