EPA Seeks Penalty against Company for Illegal Dumping of Brine In Allegheny National Forest Wells (PA)
PHILADELPHIA (June 28, 2011) The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has proposed a $157,500 civil penalty against a Kansas-based
company for alleged illegal discharges of more than 228,000 gallons
of oil brine into injection wells in the Allegheny National Forest
in McKean County, Pa.
EPA alleges violations of the federal Safe
Drinking Water Act and EPA regulations on the underground
injections of fluids and wastes, in seeking the penalty against
Swamp Angel Energy, LLC, of Wichita, Kan.
“EPA takes our responsibility to protect
public health very seriously,” said EPA Regional
Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “When companies break the law
and threaten our drinking water supplies, they must be held
accountable.”
The proposed Administrative Order and Complaint
for Penalty against Swamp Angel Energy alleges that the company
illegally pumped brine generated from its oil production operations
into the underground wells. In addition to the penalty, EPA’s
action also requires the company to properly plug one of the two
wells at issue, known as “Old Glory.”
In its complaint, EPA states that the
unauthorized disposal of brine into injection wells without the
proper safeguards poses a potential threat to underground sources
of drinking water. In Pennsylvania, EPA authorizes and enforces
Underground Injection Control (UIC) permitting requirements
including responsibility for regulating the construction,
operation, and closure of injection wells that place fluids
underground for storage or disposal. More information on EPA's UIC
program is at http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/uic/
Two company employees were previously convicted
on criminal charges in connection with the illegal brine injection.
They were sentenced to home detention and probation and ordered to
pay a fine and perform community service. See
http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/pr/2010_june/2010_06_24_04.html
The company has the right to appeal the alleged
violations and proposed penalty.