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EPA: Oil companies ordered to provide full replacement water to 20 homes on the Fort Peck Reservation

Release Date: 9/21/2001
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x6211,

Release Date: 9/21/2001
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x6893,

Release Date: 9/21/2001
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x6217

Denver -- On September 20, 2001, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an Emergency Administrative Order requiring several oil companies to deliver full replacement water -- for all household uses including safe drinking, bathing and cooking -- to 20 families whose private water supply wells have, or are at risk of having, unsafe levels of the contaminants benzene and total dissolved solids.

The Order extends to Marathon Oil Co., Murphy Exploration and Production Co., Pioneer Natural Resources USA Inc., Samson Investment Co. and Samson Hydrocarbons Co.

The companies are also ordered to collect new data, and submit relevant documents, to indicate whether the groundwater contamination from their oil production operations might pose a future threat to the City of Poplar's drinking water supplies. The groundwater contamination is affecting 20 private water wells in the East Poplar Oil Field and may pose a future threat to the public water supply wells in the City of Poplar.

"The major goals of this action are to obtain safe household water for 20 families, and to determine if the City's water supply may be impacted in the future by the contamination. We must ensure the continued safety of the community's water supply, and obtain safe water for the affected rural families," Technical Enforcement Lead Nathan Wiser said.

Failure to comply with EPA's Emergency Administrative Order could result in fines up to $15,000 per day, per violation.