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U.S. EPA fines Nevada developer $43,000 over injection well violations

Release Date: 12/12/2007
Contact Information: Mary Simms 415-947-4270

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined a Nevada-based developer $43,000 for violating its underground injection control permit at the 240-home Pineview Estates subdivision in Gardnerville, Nev., a violation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

PTP, Inc. violated an EPA-issued permit that authorizes subsurface injection of wastewater from the company’s treatment facility located at Pineview Estates. The regulation of subsurface injection protects underground aquifers which are potential drinking water sources.

“The EPA’s permit for this development was designed to protect underground sources of drinking water, and public health, within the community,” said Alexis Strauss, Water Division director for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “PTP must comply with all permit terms and conditions to ensure the protection of water resources in this area.”

The EPA inspected the development several times between 2003 and 2007, and discovered effluent surfacing in the drainfield and other conditions that are violations of PTP’s UIC permit.

The 63-acre site, now in its final phase of development, is located six miles south of Gardnerville, and is an individually-owned Indian trust allotment administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The EPA oversees underground injection on tribal lands that do not have approved programs in place.

Companies must comply with underground injection control regulations of the Safe Drinking Water Act for wastewater treatment and disposal systems which have the potential to impact subsurface waters. The Safe Drinking Water Act regulates all water sources that could reasonably expect to supply drinking water to the public in the future.

PTP is now working closely with the EPA to come into compliance with UIC permit requirements.

For more information about the Safe Drinking Water Act, and EPA’s underground injection control program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/safewater/index.html.