EPA v. SAMSON OIL AND GAS

Case summary

Sometime between February 14 and 15, 2009, 200 barrels of crude oil and 200 barrels of produced water (salt water) were discharged from two (2) 400 barrels storage tanks as a result of a malfucntion of a control/dump valve on the heater treater unit. The spills occured over a 24 hour period and were discovered on February 15, 2009. Due to the elevation of the location of the storage tanks relative the surroundings, the discharge flowed eastward to the Little Piney Creek and westward to the Piney Creek. Both Little Piney Creek and the Piney Creek are perennial creeks and tributaries of the Belle Fourche River which is is a navigable waters of the US. The facility's SPCC plan was reviewed and found to be inadequate. The plan has been updated and is currently in compliance

Defendants (1)

• SAMSON OIL AND GASNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SAMSON OIL AND GAS

  1331 17TH STREET SUITE 710, DENVER, CO, 80202

  Registry ID: 110059716053

Statutes cited

• CWA 311J — SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SAMSON OIL AND GASentered 2014-02-18

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $60,000

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2014-02-18Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2014-02-18Final Order Issued
• 2014-04-22Enforcement Action Closed
• 2014-05-29Enforcement Action Data Entered