6/24/14 - CONSENT AGMT AND FINAL ORDER ISSUED, ASSESSING A PENALTY OF $5,889.81, DUE WITHIN 30 DAYS.
ALLEGATIONS:
A PERMIT APPLICATION FOR THE SUBJECT WELL WAS RECEIVED BY EPA ON NOV 12, 2012. A DRAFT PERMIT WAS PROPOSED BY EPA ON MARCH 6, 2013. THE PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THIS DRAFT PERMIT WAS DATED MAR 19, 2013. THE PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT PERIOD ENDED APR 29,2013. FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC NOTICE, COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED BY EPA CONCERNING PRODUCTION WELLS IN THE AREA OF REVIEW OF THE PERMIT FOR THE SUBJECT WELL. EPA DETERMINED THESE PRODUCTION WELLS COULD POSE A DANGER TO ANY UNDERGROUND SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER (USDWs) IN THE AREA, BY CREATING PATHWAYS FOR FLUID MIGRATION. EPA DIRECTED ITS AUTHORIZED FIELD INSPECTOR TO GO TO THE SITE AND INSPECT ALL WELLS IN THE AREA OF REVIEW. THESE INSPECTIONS WERE CONDUCTED ON MAY 30, 2013. BASED ON THE INFO OBTAINED FROM THE INSPECTIONS OF MAY 30, 2013, EPA REQUESTED RESPONDENT TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION ON THE STATUS OF PRODUCTION WELLS IN THE AREA OF REVIEW AND/OR TO PERFORM CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO PREVENT FLUID MIGRATION. RESPONDENT DID NOT SUBMIT THE REQUESTED INFO NOR DID RESPONDENT PERFORM THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. THE EPA-AUTHORIZED FIELD INSPECTOR CONDUCTED A FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION ON JUNE 21, 2013, AND FOUND THAT BRINE WAS BEING INJECTED INTO THE SUBJECT WELL, WITH A TUBING PRESSURE OF 395 PSIG (POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH) AND A PUMP PRESSURE OF 395 PSIG. NO FINAL PERMIT WAS ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBJECT WELL, NOR WAS AUTHORIZATION G