EPA v. UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA

Case summary

RESPONDENT, UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, OWNS AND OPERATES AN UNDERGROUND INJECTION WELL SUBJECT TO UIC PRO- GRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN (40 C.F.R. PART 147, SUBPART X). U.S. EPA ISSUED A UIC PERMIT TO UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE WELL. THE UIC PER- MIT REQUIRED MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TESTING OF THE WELL EVERY FIVE YEARS. UNDER THE APPLICABLE UIC PROGRAM, RESPONDENT WAS REQUIRED ALSO TO COMPLY WITH ALL CONDITIONS OF THE PER- MIT. UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA'S WELL WAS TEMPORARILY ABANDONED FROM AT LEAST JULY 1994, THROUGH JULY 1999, BUT NO MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TESTING WAS PERFORMED DURING THAT PERIOD, AND NOR WERE THE OTHER TWO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS MET. THE WELL REMAINED TEMPORARILY ABANDONED THROUGH APRIL 2000. ON APRIL 19, 2000, UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA DEMON- STRATED THAT THE WELL WOULD NOT ENDANGER UNDERGROUND SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER BY PERFORMING A MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TEST ON THE WELL. U.S. EPA ISSUED A ONE COUNT COMPLAINT ON MARCH 27, 2000, ALLEGING RESPONDENT'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PERMIT AND UIC PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS/REGULATIONS. THE PARTIES SETTLED THIS ACTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,900. U.S. EPA RECEIVED PAYMENT FROM UNION OIL COMPANY OF CAL- FORNIA ON JUNE 20, 2000. CASE CLOSED.

Defendants (1)

• UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIANamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• UNOCAL CO

  2300 BURRINGTON RD SUITE 500, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL, 60195

  Registry ID: 110010580503

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1421 — UIC Regulations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIAentered 2000-05-31

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $9,900

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2000-03-27Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2000-05-31Final Order Issued
• 2000-06-20Enforcement Action Closed
• 2000-08-09Enforcement Action Data Entered