EPA v. East Poplar Oil Field

Case summary

This Emergency Administrative Order is issued to named Respondents who contaminated groundwater in and around the East Poplar Oil Field from their past practices managing produced brine in unlined pits, varous spills of produced brine and crude oil, and from produced brine and crude oil leaking at Respondent Pioneer's improperly plugged oil well. Every estimate of the movement of the East Poplar Oil Field groundwater contamination plume(s) has concluded that such plumes will reach the City of Poplar's public water system.

Defendants (3)

• Pioneeer Natural ResourcesNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Samson Hydrocarbons CompanyNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Murphy Exploration & ProductionNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• EAST POPLAR OIL FIELD

  TOWNSHIP 28 NORTH, RANGE 51 EAST, POPLAR, MT, 59255

  Registry ID: 110010674323

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1431-UIC — Emergency Powers/UIC

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• East Poplar Oil Fieldentered 2010-12-16

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2010-12-16Final Order Issued
• 2010-12-16Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2010-12-27Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2011-02-24Expedited Settlement Offered
• 2015-03-26Enforcement Action Closed