&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. ------- |