Coalition to sue EnCana over Colorado natural gas seepage
Washington (Platts)--18Jun2004
A coalition of environmental and community groups in Garfield County, Colorado, announced plans this week to take Calgary-based EnCana to federal court over alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. If the Western Colorado Congress prevails, EnCana could be on the hook for millions of dollars in fines -- $27,500/d since Apr 1, when a Silt, Colorado, woman walking on her ranch discovered natural gas seeping into the creek running through her property. After testing, EnCana concluded that seepage from the surrounding land into the creek had existed for millions of years and that its recently drilled well nearby was not responsible for the gas that bubbled up in the creek. But the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission disagreed and notified EnCana in April that it believed the gas leaked from an improperly cemented wellhead through rock faults into the creek. According to COGCC hearing manager Tricia Beaver, the seven-member commission will issue a final decision in the case at an Aug 16 hearing in Garfield County. The commission noted that the rate of seepage declined dramatically after EnCana made repairs on the Schwartz well -- evidence, it said, that the well was responsible for it. EnCana defended itself by saying it followed state rules and industry practice in drilling and operating the well and that there is no evidence of any contamination. Further, the producer said it notified the commission as soon as it could -- and that it can't be held responsible for not immediately noticing gas leaking into a creek on private land 3,500 feet from the nearest well. Further, EnCana noted that it suspended operations in a two-mile radius around the seepage and trucked in testing equipment, scientists -- even drinking water for the more than 20 families whose groundwater supply could have been affected. Nonetheless, the state is seeking fines of $420,000. But the coalition doesn't think that's enough and is suing. "It's a slap on the wrist to them, just the cost of doing business," organizer DeAnna Woolston. They're a bad actor."
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