EPA v. BLAKE & BLAIR PETROLEUM COMPANY, UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY

Case summary

1. SECTION 1423(C) OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT ( SDWA ), 42 U.S.C. SECTION 300H-2(C). 2. BLAKE & BLAIR PETROLEU COMPANY UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY WELLS: OS1289 WELL NO. WI SW/4, SEC. 20, T25N, R11E OS1290 WELL NO. L1W SW/4, SEC. 20, T25N, R11E OS1291 WELL NO. W2 SW/4, SEC. 20, T25N, R11E OS1292 WELL NO. W4 SW/4, SEC. 20, T25N, R11E OS3706 WELL NO. 1W SE/4, SEC. 19, T25N, R11E OS4916 WELL NO. 64 SW/4, SEC. 20, T25N, R11E WELLS LOCATED IN QUAPAW FIELD, OSAGE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA 3. RESPODENTS WERE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 1421 OF THE SDWA BY 1) FAILING TO SUBMIT REQUIRED ANNUAL OPERATION REPORTS FOR CLASS II WELLS AND 2) FAILING TO PLUG AND ABANDON WITHIN ONE AFTER CESSATION OF INJECTION OPERATIONS. 4. RELIEF SOUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTION 1423(C) OF THE SDWA, EPA PROPOSED AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER (AO) THAT WOULD RE- QUIRE THE RESPONDENT TO: 1) FOR EACH OF THE WELLS, RE- SPONDENT SHALL COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING NO LATER THAN 15 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE AO: A) SUBMIT ANNUAL OPERATING REPORTS FOR THE MONITORING PERIOD OF OCT. 1995, THROUGH SEPT. 1997, OR B) SUBMIT A PERMIT APPLICATION ACCORDING TO REQUIREMENTS. 2) IF RESPONDENT FAILS TO COMPLY THOSE ACTIONS, NO LATER THAN 16 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE AO, RESPOND- ENT SHALL CEASE USE OF EACH OF THE WELLS, FOR UNDERGROUND INJECTION OF FLUIDS, DISCONNECT ALL INJECTION PIPELINES LEADING TO EACH OF THE WELLS, AND REMOVE SUCH PIPELINES FROM THE WELL SITES, 3) SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO PLUG EACH OF THE INACTIVE WELLS WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER THE EF- FECTIVE DATE OF THE AO, AND 4) PROPERLY PLUG AN ABANDON EACH OF THE INACTIVE WELLS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AP- PROVED PLUGGING PLAN, WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE AO. THE AO BECOMES EFFECTIVE IN 30 DAYS AFTER THE PROPOSED DATE.

Defendants (1)

• BLAKE & BLAIR PETROLEUM COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• BLAKE & BLAIR PETROLEUM CO

  QUAPAW FIELD, OSAGE, OK, 74054

  Registry ID: 110010776017

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1421 — UIC Regulations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• BLAKE & BLAIR PETROLEUM COMPANY

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1998-02-26Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1998-02-27Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1999-04-07Enforcement Action Closed