EPA v. ANCO OPERATING COMPANY

Case summary

ANCO HAS VIOLATED AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT UNDER WHICH IT HAD COMMITTED EITHER TO PLUG AND ABANDON 53 ENHANCED RECOVERY WELLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH EPA REGULATIONS, OR, IF THE WELLS WERE NOT TO BE PLUGGED, TO SUBMIT A PERMIT APPLICATION TO EPA COVERING THESE WELLS. TO DATE, ONLY ONE OF THE WELLS HAS BEEN PLUGGED. ANCO HAS ALSO VIOLATED NUMEROUS REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO A SALT WATER DISPOSAL WELL. FOR ALL THE WELLS, ANCO HAS FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE MECHANICAL INTEGRITY. IT HAS ALSO FAILED TO SUBMIT A DEMONSTRATION OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (SHOWING ADEQUATE FUNDS FOR FUTURE PLUGGING AND ABANDONMENT).

Defendants (3)

• ANCO PRODUCTION COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• LATERAL TECHNOLOGY INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• ANCO OPERATING COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• LATERAL TECHNOLOGY INC WELLS

  SE CUT BANK SAND UNIT, CUT BANK, MT, 59427

  Registry ID: 110010670684

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1414 — Safe Drinking Water Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ANCO OPERATING CO. INC.entered 1996-07-10

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $2,500,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1992-12-15Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1992-12-15Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1993-09-16Complaint Filed With Court
• 1996-07-10Final Order Lodged
• 1996-07-10Final Order Entered
• 1996-07-10Concluded
• 2002-06-04Enforcement Action Closed