EPA v. ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC

Case summary

5/22/08 - ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ISSUED. DURING THE WEEK OF DEC 11-13, 2007, EPA INSPECTED RESPONDENT'S INJECTION WELLS. BASED UPON THE OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE INSPECTION, RESPONDENT WAS VERBALLY NOTIFED ON DEC 14, 2007, TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE INJECTION INTO THE WELLS. DURING THE INSPECTION, EACH OF THE SUBJECT WELLS CONTAINED A DEVICE WHICH WOULD CAUSE ITS ANNULUS TO BE BYPASSED DURING A MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TEST (MIT) RESULTING IN FALSIFIED MIT RESULTS. THE MECHANICAL ALTERATION TO EACH OF THE WELLS RENDERED THEM INCAPABLE OF PASSING A MIT. THEREFORE THE WELLS LACKED MECHANICAL INTEGRITY SUBSEQUENT TO THE MECHANICAL ALTERATION. RESPONDENT IS IN VIOLATION OF 40 CFR 144.28(f)(2) FOR FAILURE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBJECT INJECTION WELLS UNTIL THE WELLS WERE PROPERLY PLUGGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPROVED PLUGGING AND ABANDONMENT PLAN. ORDER REQUIRES: RESPONDENT IS HEREBY ORDERED TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE INJECTION INTO THE SUBJECT WELLS.

Defendants (1)

• ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC (SB)Named in settlement

Facilities (11)

• REISS-YUNKER-DURHAM UIC WELL #9 (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N.37788514, W-87.916747, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234212

• PIKE HEIRS B #1 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N37.751326, W-97.918018, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234196

• M.S. RANKIN #3 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N.37859963, W-97902141, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234178

• M.S. RANKIN #36-W UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N37-856596, W-97.909188, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234187

• HIGHLAND CREEK COAL CO. #1 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N37.780410, W-87.914264, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234132

• INEZ RHEA #8 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N37.79000, W-87.913944, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234150

• BLAND ORME #1 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N37.780057, W-87.915392, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234123

• J.P. ROBINSON #1 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N37.795205, W-87919023, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234169

• REISS-YUNKER-DURHAM#7 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N-37788514, W-87.916747, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037234203

• BESSIE BOSWELL #1 UIC WELL (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLC)

  N37.709553, W-88.051081, UNIONTOWN, KY, 42461

  Registry ID: 110037231279

• INEZ RHEA #9 (UIC WELL) (ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY)

  LAT: N374724 - LONG: W875506, UNIONTOWN, KY, 43461

  Registry ID: 110037238913

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1422/1423 — UIC Regulations Classes I - V

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ROSECLARE OIL COMPANY, LLCentered 2008-05-22

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2008-05-22Final Order Issued
• 2008-08-29Enforcement Action Data Entered