The Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and State of Colorado Reach Agreement with Highpoint Operating Corporation to Resolve Alleged Clean Air Act Violations and Reduce Air Pollution in Colorado
(WorldNews Environment)

WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the state of Colorado today announced a settlement with Denver-based HighPoint Operating Corporation resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations. The settlement resolves alleged claims that HighPoint violated requirements to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from its oil and natural gas production operations in the Denver-Julesburg Basin. VOCs are a key component in the formation of ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs, exacerbates diseases such as asthma, and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. `As part of the...