EPA v. SUPERIOR WELDING, INC.

Case summary

SUPERIOR WELDING, INC. ( RESPONDENT ) IS A CORPORATION AU- THORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF OK. AND AS SUCH IS A PERSON WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1402(12) OF THE ACT, 42 U.S.C. SEC. 300F(12). RESPONDENT IS SUBJECT TO UNDERGROUND INJECTION CONTROL ( UIC ) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AT 40 C.F.R. SEC. 147, SUBPART GGG. RESPONDENT IS THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF AN INJECTION WELL WHICH IS A NEW CLASS II WELL AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED AT 40 C.F.R. SEC. 147.2902. THE INJECTION WELL IS IDENTIFIED AS WELL C-2 ( WELL ). THE WELL IS ALSO IDENTIFIED BY EPA IN- VENTORY NUMBER OS5365, AND IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEAST QUAR- TER OF SECTION 30, TOWNSHIP 28 NORTH, RANGE 11 EAST, WEST BOWRING FIELD, OSAGE COUNTY, OK. 0N MAR. 24, 1989, THE EPA ISSUED UIC PERMIT NO. 06S1261P5365 ( PERMIT ) TO RESPONDENT TO CONVERT A WELL TO A CLASS II SALT WATER DISPOSAL INJECTION WELL. THE PERMIT REQUIRES THAT THE WELL HAVE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY AND THAT THE EPA ISSUE SEPARATE AUTHORIZATION TO INJECT BEFORE THE WELL IS USED FOR FLUID INJECTION. THE DIRECTOR ISSUED AUTHORIZATION TO INJECT ON MAR. 24, 1989. THIS AUTHORIZATION TO INJECT WAS EFFECTIVE UNTIL TERMINATION. RESPONDENT DID NOT HAVE AN EMERGENCY PERMIT FOR VIOLATIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER. ON JUL. 6, 1993, AN EPA REGION 6 OFFICIAL INSPECTED THE WELL AND OBSERVED THAT THE WELL WAS BEING USED FOR UNDERGROUND INJECTION OF FLUIDS. ALSO, THE INJECTION PRESSURE AND AN- NULUS PRESSURE WERE EQUAL. THIS INDICATED THAT THE WELL DID NOT HAVE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE CASING, TUBING, OR PAC- KER. THEREFORE, ON JUL. 30, 1993, THE DIRECTOR NOTIFIED RE- SPONDENT THAT AUTHORIZATION TO INJECT FOR THE WELL WAS TERMINATED. ON OCT. 28, 1993, AN EPA REGION 6 OFFICIAL INSPECTED THE WELL AND OBSERVED THAT THE WELL WAS BEING USED FOR UNDER- GROUND INJECTION OF FLUIDS AND THE INJECTION PRESSURE AND ANNULUS PRESSURE WERE EQUAL. THIS INDICATED THAT THE WELL DID NOT HAVE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF THE CASING, TUBING, AND PACKER.. THEREFORE, REPONDENT VIOLATED 40 C.F.R. SEC. 147.2916, 147. 2925(A)AND CONDITION II.B. OF THE PERMIT BY USING THE WELL FOR UNDERGROUND INJECTION OF FLUIDS WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION TO INJECT OR MECHANICAL INTEGRITY.

Defendants (1)

• SUPERIOR WELDING, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SUPERIOR COS INCORPORATED MACHINING & FABRICATION DIVISION

  101 NORTH JOHNSTONE AVENUE, BARTLESVILLE, OK, 74003

  Registry ID: 110002130248

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SUPERIOR WELDING, INC.entered 1994-08-04

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $2,600

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 1994-05-04Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1994-05-04Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1994-08-04Final Order Issued
• 1994-08-24Compliance Achieved
• 1994-08-24Enforcement Action Closed