EPA v. DUFFIELD, ROBERT

Case summary

DATA SHEET: * VIOLATIONS: VIOLATIONS OF 40 CFR PART 147, SUBPART GGG REGULATIONS APPLYING TO CLASS II INJECTION WELLS IN OSAGE COUNTY, OK; NO MECHANICAL INTEGRITY; FAILURE TO MONITOR INJECTION PRES- SURE AND RATE MONTHLY; FAILURE TO SUBMIT ANNUAL OPERATING REPORTS; AND FAILURE TO PLUG AND ABANDON. * PROPOSED RELIEF: SETTLEMENT IN THE FORM OF A CONSENT DECREE WITH A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY AMOUNT OF $47,100, SPECIFIC STEPS TO BRING WELLS INTO COMPLIANCE, AND STIPULATED PENALTIES FOR VIOLA- TIONS OF COMPLIANCE STEPS. * * SYNOPSIS: ROBERT DUFFIELD IS A SMALL, INDEPENDENT OIL PRODUCER IN OSAGE COUNTY, OK. AS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF TWO SALT WATER DISPOSAL WELLS IN SAID COUNTY, RESPONDENT IS RESPONSI- BLE FOR NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS OF THE SDWA, 42 USC 300F ET SEQ AND UIC REGULATIONS AT 40 CFR PART 147, SUBPART GGG. * SPECIFICALLY, RESPONDENT'S WELL NUMBER 4 FAILED A MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TEST ON UNE 19, 1986, AND TO THE DATE OF THIS REFERRAL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. WELL NUMBER 5, RESPONDENT'S OTHER SALT WATER DISPOSAL WELL IN OSAGE COUNTY, HAS BEEN INACTIVE SINCE AT LEAST DEC 30, 1984, BUT HAS NOT BEEN PLUGGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS. FINALLY, RESP HAS FILED TO MONITOR INJECTION PRESSURE AND RATE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND TO SUBMIT ANNUAL OPERATING REPORTS, FOR WELL NUMBER 4 AND WELL NUMBER 5. * ALTHOUTH NO ENVIROMENTAL HARM IS EVIDENT, RESP'S VIOLATIONS, PARTICULARYLY THE LACK OF MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF WELL NUMBER 4, PRESENT THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINATION OF AN UNDERGROUND SORCE OF DRINKING WATER. REGION VI RECOMMENDS NEGOTIATION OF A CONSENT DECREE IN THIS MATTER. THE CONSENT DECREE SHOULD PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY OF $47,100, SPECIFIC STEPS TO BRING RESPONDENT'S WELLS INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT AND THE REGULATIONS, AND STIPULATED PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF SAID COMPLIANCE STEPS.

Defendants (1)

• DUFFIELD, ROBERTNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• WELL NUMBER 4 & WELL NUMBER 5

  SW QUARTER OF SECTION 33 TOWN-, TULSA, OK, 74132

  Registry ID: 110010726973

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1422 — Safe Drinking Water Act
• SDWA 1421 — UIC Regulations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• DUFFIELD, ROBERTentered 1990-02-26

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $12,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1988-02-29Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1988-02-29Referred To Headquarters
• 1988-04-21Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1988-10-04Complaint Filed With Court
• 1990-02-26Final Order Lodged
• 1990-02-26Final Order Entered
• 1990-02-26Concluded
• 1994-12-22Enforcement Action Closed