MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Robert Johns, 202-234-7181 ext.210, bjohns@abcbirds.org

Western Grebes by Alan Wilson

(Washington, D.C. June 10, 2011) The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has formally reached a $5.4 million settlement agreement with the Sinclair Wyoming Refining Company after oil from the refinery's waste water system ended up in outdoor ponds, killing 147 birds(mainly Western and Eared grebes – fish-eating water birds) and coating another 224 birds that needed treatment.

In late April of 2010, DEQ was notified of an ongoing release of oil and associated waste at the Sinclair refinery near Rawlins, Wyoming. Migrating birds landed in the contaminated evaporation ponds and became oiled.

“We are glad the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality pursued this case and forced a settlement, with the hope it sends a message to other oil and gas producers that they must take reasonable measures to prevent other unnecessary bird deaths,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy, the nation's leading bird conservation organization.

The refinery has a history of DEQ-related violations.  In 2009, Sinclair settled with the state on a fine of $660,000 for another spill of about three million gallons of gasoline.  In 2009 and 2010, there were eight separate violations that were settled or will be settled with fines.

According to Charles Plymale, project manager for enforcement and compliance for the Solid and Hazardous Division of DEQ, the settlement includes an $850,000 penalty payment and an additional $4,500,000 commitment from Sinclair to upgrade equipment and conduct waste minimization activities at the refinery, and to provide wildlife rehabilitation training.