UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 19, 2018
NGL ENERGY PARTNERS LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-35172 | 27-3427920 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
6120 South Yale Avenue
Suite 805
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(918) 481-1119
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240-14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240-14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240-13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company o | ||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
EPA Matter
In 2015, as previously disclosed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) informed NGL Crude Logistics, LLC, formerly known as Gavilon, LLC (“Gavilon Energy”), of alleged violations occurring in 2011 by Gavilon Energy of the Clean Air Act’s renewable fuel standards regulations (prior to its acquisition by us in December 2013). On October 4, 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice, acting at the request of the EPA, filed a civil complaint in the Northern District of Iowa against Gavilon Energy and one of its then suppliers, Western Dubuque Biodiesel LLC (“Western Dubuque”). Consistent with the earlier allegations by the EPA, the civil complaint related to transactions between Gavilon Energy and Western Dubuque and the generation of biodiesel renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) sold by Western Dubuque to Gavilon Energy in 2011. On December 19, 2016, we filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On January 9, 2017, the EPA filed an amended complaint. The amended complaint seeks an order declaring Western Dubuque’s RINs invalid and requiring the defendants to retire an equivalent number of valid RINs and that the defendants pay statutory civil penalties. On January 23, 2017, we filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On April 11, 2017, the court approved an amended consent decree between EPA and Western Dubuque under which Western Dubuque was required to pay a $6 million civil penalty, and Western Dubuque was dismissed from the case. On May 24, 2017, the court denied our motion to dismiss. Subsequently, the EPA filed a second amended complaint seeking an order declaring Western Dubuque’s RINs invalid, an order requiring us to retire an equivalent number of valid RINs and an award against us of statutory civil penalties. In May 2018, the parties completed briefing on cross-motions for summary judgment concerning liability issues in the case. On July 3, 2018, the Court denied our summary judgment motion and largely granted the plaintiff’s two summary judgment motions on liability. On July 19, 2018, Gavilon Energy reached an agreement in principle with the EPA regarding the terms of a settlement of the case. Such terms will result in Gavilon Energy incurring an estimated cost of up to $35 million over a twelve-month period. The agreement is subject to the parties submitting a definitive consent decree to the Court for its approval. If ultimately approved by the Court, the consent decree will resolve all matters between Gavilon Energy and the EPA in connection with the above-described complaint.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NGL ENERGY PARTNERS LP | |||
By: | NGL Energy Holdings LLC, | ||
its general partner | |||
Date: July 25, 2018 | By: | /s/ Robert W. Karlovich III | |
Robert W. Karlovich III | |||
Chief Financial Officer | |||