EPA Issues Cease Order to Smith and Smith Petroleum

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Smith and Smith Petroleum for violating the federal Clean Water Act.

The agency took the decision following its inspection of the firm’s oilfield production facility in Oklahoma, US, in April this year.

The inspection team found an unauthorised discharge of oilfield brine and wastewater generated by production activities into a tributary of Tucker Creek.

The team also revealed that water located at the discharge point of entry into the tributary was contaminated with brine discharges and salts.

Based on these findings, the firm was ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants from the facility and remove all brine and contaminated soils from the flow path located between the facility and the Tucker Creek tributary.

The firm was also ordered to provide written certification to the EPA within 30 days that these activities have been completed.