*>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
How to comment
You may comment on the proposed
permit approval in writing. Please
refer to Big Creek 9-16,
MI-135-2D-0047
Mail or email your comments to:
William Tong
U.S. EPA, Water Division
UIC Branch (WU-16J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Email: tong.william@epa.gov
Phone: (312) 886-9380
Comment period
The Agency will accept written
comments until April 9 (midnight
postmark).
Information repository
You may see the draft permit at:
Oscoda County Library
430 W Eighth Street, Mio, MI;
or at http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP.
Administrative Record
You may see the full administrative
record, including all data Merit
Energy 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 William Tong
(see above).
Right to appeal
You have the right to appeal any
final permit decision if you make an
official comment during the
comment period or participate in the
public hearing. A public hearing is
not planned at this time. The first
appeal must be made to the
Environmental Appeals Board.
EPA Seeks Comments on Draft
Underground Injection Permit
Merit Energy Company
Oscoda County, Michigan
March 2018
The U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency plans to allow Merit Energy
Company, 13727 Noel Road, Suite 1200,
Dallas, Texas 75240 to inject fluid
underground by approving the
company's application for what EPA
calls a Class II injection well permit.
If EPA makes its approval final, Merit
Energy Company may inject produced
brine into a rock formation 4178 feet
EPA is accepting comments from the public on this proposed permit approval
(see box, left). The public comment period 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.
EPA does not have the authority to change the surface location of the injection
well. If you have questions or concerns about the well's location, contact the
MDEQ, P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, Michigan 48909 and phone number
(517)284-6826.
To learn more about EPA's Underground Injection Control program, or to join
our mailing list visit http://go.usa.gov/3JwFP.
Location of Existing Big Creek 9-16
below the surface through a well at
NW 1/4, Section 16, T25N, R2E,
Oscoda County. Merit Energy Company has also applied for a permit from the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

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