3/1/11 - CEASE INJECTION ORDER ISSUED. DURING AN INSPECTION ON FEB 7, 2011, IT WAS FOUND THAT PRODUCED FLUIDS FROM AN OIL/WATER SEPARATOR WERE BEING INJECTED INTO THE SUBJECT WELL THROUGH ITS CASING. THIS WELL IS AN UNAUTHORIZED CONVERSION OF AN ABANDONED OIL WELL.
40 CFR 144.11 PROHIBITS ANY UNDERGROUND INJECTION OR CONSTRUCTION OF AN UNDERGROUND INJECTION WELL THAT IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY RULE OR BY AN ISSUED PERMIT.
NO AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR THE UNDERGROUND INJECTION OF FLUIDS INTO THE SUBJECT WELL. NO PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED ALLOWING CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBJECT INJECTION WELL.
THEREFORE, RESPONDENT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE SDWA AND 40 CFR 144.11 FOR UNAUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTION OF AN INJECTION WELL AND UNAUTHORIZED UNDERGROUND INJECTION.
ORDER:
RESPONDENT IS HEREBY ORDERED TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE INJECTION INTO THE SUBJECT WELL, PURSUANT TO THE REGULATION AT 40 CFR 144.11, WHICH PROHIBITS UNAUTHORIZED UNDERGROUND INJECTION AND PROHIBITS UNAUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTION OF AN UNDERGROUND INJECTION WELL.