9/16/19 - ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT ISSUED.
FINDINGS OF FACT:
ON NOV 22, 2016, A REFUGE HUNTER DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED AND LEAKING OIL WELL LOCATED IN THE CLOVERDALE UNIT OF THE ST. CATHERINE CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND REPORTED THE DISCOVERY THAT SAME DAY TO A FEDERAL WILDLIFE OFFICER WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS). PRIOR TO THIS TIME, USFWS REPRESENTATIVES WERE UNAWARE OF THE OIL WELL'S EXISTENCE DUE TO THE LARGE AREA (NEARLY 25,000 ACRES) OF THE REFUSE. THE FEDERAL WILDLIFE OFFICER SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED AND DOCUMENTED THE WELL SITE LOCATED AND CONTACTED THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER.
ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL WILDLIFE OFFICER, THE OIL WELL WAS OBSERVED TO BE LEAKING CRUDE OIL FROM THE CASING THAT REMAINED IN THE GROUND IN A PORTION OF THE REFUGE LOCATED ADJACENT TO A WATERFOWL IMPOUNDMENT APPROX 1/2 MILE FROM ST. CATHERINE CREEK, WHICH LEADS DIRECTLY TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE AREA WHERE THE WELL WAS DISCOVERED IS ANNUALLY FLOODED WITH WATER FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THAT CAN COVER THE LOCATION WITH 20 FEET OF WATER.
FOLLOWING DELAYS DUE TO FLOODING OF THE AREA, WHICH PROHIBITED ACCESS TO THE OIL WELL LOCATION, ON FEB 22, 2017, EPA'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND REMOVAL BRANCH ARRIVED AT THE SITE TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF THE OIL WELL AND ITS ASSOCIATED THREATS TO SURFACE WATER AND THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.
DURING THE SITE VISIT, EVIDENCE OF HIGH-WATER LEVELS WERE OBSERVED, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF WATER STAINING ON TREE BRAN