Frontier Refinery pays fine for wastewater pond problems CHEYENNE, WY (wpr) - Frontier Refining in Cheyenne will pay a 900 thousand dollar penalty for storing hazardous waste in a wastewater pond that wasn't constructed to prevent overflowing or leaks. The Environmental Protection Agency began the enforcement action against Frontier last fall. In addition to the 900 thousand dollar fine, Frontier has agreed to disconnect the piping that allows hazardous waste to flow into the pond. It will also remove and manage all of the existing waste, and clean the existing liner. Frontier is also required to submit a plan for closing the pond.
The EPA discovered the problem as part of a nationwide effort to identify deficient wastewater ponds. Last fall, an attorney for the agency said the waste illegally stored in the pond could include known carcinogens. The attorney also said the EPA could not be sure whether that kind of material has migrated from the site, or entered groundwater. The EPA originally sought a nearly 7 million dollar fine.

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