EPA cites two Oklahoma producers for CWA violations

April 28, 2010
The US Environmental Protection Agency issued cease-and-desist orders to two Oklahoma producers on Apr. 28 for violating the federal Clean Water Act, EPA’s district office in Dallas said.

Nick Snow
OGJ Washington Editor

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr. 28 -- The US Environmental Protection Agency issued cease-and-desist orders to two Oklahoma producers on Apr. 28 for violating the federal Clean Water Act, EPA’s district office in Dallas said.

It cited Gary Davis Oil LLC, Tonkawa, and Territory Resources LLC, Stillwater, following Mar. 25 inspections of their separate oil field production and brine disposal facilities.

Inspectors found unauthorized brine and produced wastewater discharges into a Birds Nest Creek tributary at Territory’s production site in Noble and Kay County, and into the Chikaskia River at Gary Davis Oil’s production site in Kay County, according to EPA. Water at the discharge sites’ point of entry at the two locations also was contaminated with brine discharges and salts, it added.

The producers must halt the discharges, remove all brine and contaminated soil from the flow path between their oil fields and the discharge points of entry, and provide written certification within 30 days that these activities have been completed, EPA said.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].