EPA v. GORE, SIDNEY

Case summary

DATA SHEET: * VIOLATIONS: VIOLATIONS OF 40 CFR PART 147, SUBPART GGG REGS APPLYING TO CLASS II INJECTION WELLS IN OSAGE COUNTY, OK: 1) FAILURE TO DOMO MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE WELLS PRIOR TO OPERATION AND 2) UNAUTHORIZED INJECTION. * PROPOSED RELIEF: SETTLEMENT IN THE FORM OF A DECREE WITH A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY OF $57,425. THE REGION REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION TO COMMENCE SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS. * RECENT CONTACE WITH RESP: FEB 1, 1988 COMPLIANCE MEETING AND SEVERAL TELE CONVERSA- TIONS. * CASE SYNOPSIS: SIDNEY GORE IS A SMALL, INDEPENDENT OIL PRODUCER DOING BUSINESS IN OSAGE COUNTY, OK. AS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF SALT WATER DISPOSAL WELLS IN SAID COUNTY, RESP IS ALLEGED TO HAVE VIOLATED, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE SDWA, 42 USC 300F ET SEQ, AND THE UIC REGS APPLICABLE TO CLASS II INJECTION WELLS IN OSAGE COUNTY, OK, 40 CFR PART 147, SUBPART GGG. * RESP'S VIOLATIONS CONSIST OF INJECTING SALT WATER INTO TWO UNDERGROUND INJECTION WELLS PRIOR TO DEMO MECHANICAL INTE- GRITY OF THE CASING, TUBING AND PACKER OF THE WELLS AND PRIOR TO RECEIVING AUTHORIZATION TO INJECT INTO THE WELLS FROM THE US EPA. * ALTHOUGH NO ENVRIONMENTAL HARM IS EVIDENT, RESP'S VIOLATIONS PRESENT THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINATION OF AN UNDERGROUND SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER. REGION VI RECOMMENDS NEGOTIATION OF A DECREE ADDRESSING RESP'S PAST VIOLATIONS OF THE ACT AND THE REGULATIONS, AND PROVIDING FOR, AT THE MINIMUM, A CIVIL PENALTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $57,425. THE REGION REQUESTS AUTH- ORIZATION TO COMMENCE PRE-FILING SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS. * RESP IS PRESENTLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT AND THE REGULA- TIONS.

Defendants (1)

• GORE, SIDNEYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (4)

• SIDNEY GORE WELL #3

  MEYERS FIELD T23N R10E, OSAGE, OK, 74054

  Registry ID: 110010744150

• SIDNEY GORE WELL 6

  CANYON CREEK FIELD T26N R8E, OSAGE, OK, 74054

  Registry ID: 110010744169

• SIDNEY GORE WELL C 4

  BARNSDALL FIELD T23N R10E, OSAGE, OK, 74054

  Registry ID: 110010699789

• SIDNEY GORE WELL 4

  CANYON CREEK FIELD T26 R8E, OSAGE, OK, 74054

  Registry ID: 110010699770

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1423 — Safe Drinking Water Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GORE, SIDNEYentered 1991-02-12

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $12,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1988-05-05Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1988-09-22Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1988-12-29Returned To Region
• 1989-05-17Rereferred
• 1991-02-07Complaint Filed With Court
• 1991-02-12Final Order Lodged
• 1991-02-12Final Order Entered
• 1991-02-12Concluded
• 1991-04-29Enforcement Action Closed