Three US oil processing plants could face fines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to fulfil their responsibility to preventing oil spills.

In a meeting last week, the organisation ruled that DDLC Energy of New London and Taylor Energy of Broad Brook, both of Connecticut, and Northeast Products of Fall River, Massachusetts should face levies for their neglect of responsibilities to maintain spill prevention, control and countermeasure strategies.

"To ensure that a facility can adequately respond to a spill, it must have adequate employee training, spill response equipment, and a contingency plan for containing and cleaning up a release," the EPA stated.

As such, the three firms may be forced to implement new oil training schemes and install new equipment in addition to facing a fine of up to $157,500 (£107,000) each.

In other recent developments, the EPA has also announced that it is seeking $2,734,199 in cleanup reparations from Berkshire Gas after a river in western Massachusetts was contaminated.

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