EPA v. BLANTON, WARREN

Case summary

9/8/15 - CONSENT AGMT AND FINAL ORDER, ASSESSING A PENALTY OF $8,600, DUE WITHIN 60 DAYS. ALLEGATIONS: RESPONDENT IS THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE CLASS II UIC WELLS: JAMES GULLETT #2; JOHN PACE #2; WILLIAM HEIRS #3 ON OCT 21, 1991, EPA ISSUED TO GHENT INVESTMENTS, INC., A UIC PERMIT. ON DEC 15, 2008, THE PERMIT WAS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE TRANSFER TO RESPONDENT. ON JULY 17, 1989, EPA ISSUED TO JOSEPH W. PORTER, SR., A UIC PERMIT. ON OCT 23, 2009, THE PERMIT WAS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE TRANSFER TO RESPONDENT. ON APR 14, 1989, EPA ISSUED TO FANTOME INVESTMENT CORP A UIC PERMIT. ON OCT 15, 2009, THE PERMIT WAS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE TRANSFER TO RESPONDENT. THE PERMITS REQUIRES THAT DEMONSTRATIONS OF MECHANICAL INTEGRITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH 40 CFR 146.8 BE MADE NO LATER THAN 5 YEARS FROM THE LAST APPROVED DEMONSTRATION. THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY DEMONSTRATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIVE PERMITTED SUBJECT WELLS ARE OVERDUE: JAMES GULLETT #2 - LAST MIT DONE, 1/31/2007; MIT DUE 1/31/2012; JOHN PACE #2 - LAST MIT DONE, 5/13/2009; MIT DONE 5/13/2014; WILLIAM HEIRS #3 - LAST MIT DONE, 9/2/2009; MIT DONE, 9/9/14. THEREFORE, RESPONDENT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE SDWA, 40 CFR 146.8 AND 144.51(a) AND THE UIC PERMITS FOR FAILURE TO TIMELY DEMONSTRATE THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE ACTIVE PERMITTED SUBJECT WELLS. ORDER: WITHIN 90 DAYS, RESPONDENT IS ORDERED TO SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATE THE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OR TO CLOSE, PLUG AND ABANDON THE SUBJECT WELLS. MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TESTING OR PLUGGING AND ABANDONMENT MUST BE WITNESSED BY AN EPA-AUTHORIZED INSPECTOR.

Defendants (1)

• BLANTON, WARRENNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (3)

• WILLIAM HEIR #3 UIC WELL

  LAT/LONG: 37.755639 / -83.003444, SALYERSVILLE, KY, 41465

  Registry ID: 110064841211

• JAMES GULLET #2 UIC WELL

  LAT/LONG: 37.77264 / -83.023689, SALYERSVILLE, KY, 41465

  Registry ID: 110064841177

• JOHN PACE #2

  LAT/LONG: 37.740309 / -82.989672, SALYERSVILLE, KY, 41465

  Registry ID: 110064841202

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• BLANTON, WARRENentered 2015-09-08

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $8,600

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2015-09-08Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2015-09-08Final Order Issued
• 2015-09-16Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2017-01-05Enforcement Action Closed