&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Seeks Comments on Denial
of Underground Injection Permit
How to comment
You may comment on the proposed
permit denial in writing. Please refer
to application # MI-101-2R-0017
Mail or email your comments to:
Janette E. Hansen
U.S. EPA, Water Division
UIC Branch (WU-16J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Email: hansen.janette@epa.gov
Phone: (312) 886-0241
Comment period
The Agency will accept written
comments until April 2, 2019
(midnight postmark).
Administrative Record
You may see the full administrative
record, including all data Federal Oil
Company submitted, at the EPA's
Chicago regional office (address
above), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays.
For an appointment to see the files,
contact Janette E. Hansen (see
above).
Right to appeal
To preserve your right to appeal any
final decision that may be made in
this matter under Title 40 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (40
C.F.R.) § 124.19, you must either
participate in a public hearing or
send in written comments on this
draft decision. (A public hearing is
not planned at this time.) The first
appeal must be made to the
Environmental Appeals Board.
Federal Oil Company, LLC
Manistee County, Michigan
February 2019
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to deny Federal Oil
Company, LLC, (Federal Oil) of 700 E. Michigan St., Mount Pleasant,
Michigan 48858 a Class II injection well permit to inject fluid
underground. Federal Oil Company, LLC, an independently-owned oil
company, applied for an EPA permit for the State Cleon 2-13 injection
well to be used for enhanced oil or gas recovery in Section 13, T24N,
R13W, Cleon Township, Manistee County, Michigan.
Pursuant to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR §144.31,
an applicant for a UIC permit is required to submit a complete permit
application to EPA. In addition, at 40 CFR § 124.3(d), if an applicant fails
or refuses to do so, the permit may be denied.
In September 2018, EPA notified Federal Oil Company by letter that its
application was deficient because Federal Oil had not demonstrated
financial resources to close, plug, and abandon the proposed injection
well in accordance with 40 C.F.R. § 144.52(a)(7). EPA again provided
such written notice in October and December 2018. Federal Oil has not
provided resources as of the date of this public notice.
EPA is accepting comments from the public on this proposed permit
denial (see box, left). The public comment period, which ends April 2,
2019, includes 30 days for comments as required by law, plus an
additional three days for any delay caused by mailing.
During the comment period, you may ask EPA - in writing - to hold a
formal public hearing (see address, left). Be sure to say specifically what
issues you want to raise. EPA will hold a hearing if there is significant
interest. If there is a hearing, EPA will publish a notice at least 30 days
prior. You will have an opportunity to make oral comments or submit
written comments. EPA will consider all comments it receives, and then
issue a final decision along with a response to significant comments.
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to regulate the underground
injection of fluids through wells to protect the quality of underground
sources of drinking water. Issuing permits is one way EPA does this. You
can find the regulations governing underground injection wells at Title 40
of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 144 and 146.
To learn more about EPA's Underground Injection Control program, or
to join our mailing list visit http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP.

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