Targa Badlands LLC, a company operating in North Dakota, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor after pleading guilty to violating the Clean Air Act’s National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). The sentence includes three years of probation, 500 hours of community service to the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, a $500,000 fine, and $400 in special assessments.
According to court documents and the plea agreement, Targa Badlands LLC operates six natural gas compressor stations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Between 2018 and 2022, at its Johnson Compressor Station in Dunn County, North Dakota, the company failed to install continuous parameter monitoring systems on two engines as required under NESHAP regulations. These systems are designed to monitor temperature and pressure during engine operations to ensure proper use of catalysts and prevent excess emissions of hazardous air pollutants.
The plea agreement also notes that Targa Badlands LLC had previously paid civil penalties in 2019 and 2021 for separate NESHAP violations at other compressor stations on the reservation. In both instances, agreements were reached with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Targa Badlands LLC identified and reported its failure regarding timely installation of monitoring systems at the Johnson Compressor Station. The company has since corrected this issue and adopted new policies aimed at improving compliance with environmental permit requirements.
“Today’s sentence underscores the importance of enforcing our environmental laws, which protect the land, water, and communities,” said US Attorney Nicholas W. Chase. “At the same time, we recognize that Targa Badlands LLC took responsibility for its actions and self-reported the violation. Natural gas production is vital to our state’s economy, and it must be done responsibly. This case demonstrates that we can support strong energy production while holding companies accountable when they fall short of their legal obligations.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek prosecuted the case.
