Mar. 23--Government regulators and the Oklahoma City-based Kerr- McGee Corp. remain tight-lipped about environmental violations alleged at two natural-gas compressors the company operates in the Uinta Basin.

Last week, the company disclosed in papers filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it had received a Nov. 14 letter about air quality and permit violations at the Cottonwood and Ouray compressor stations. The stations help move natural gas from wells through pipelines to processing facilities.

An inquiry begun by the state Division of Air Quality four years ago suggested the company had failed to obtain required air-quality permits and to properly implement pollution controls, according to Division Director Rick Sprott. Kerr-McGee bought the compressors as part of its $3.4 billion purchase of Westport Resources Corp. nearly two years ago.

Kerr-McGee declined to discuss what sort of penalties or payments might be involved in the case.

"We place a priority on safety and care for the environment at all of our operations," said company spokesman John Christiansen.

The EPA also declined to discuss specifics of the case.