The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented Minard Run Oil Company of Bradford, PA with an award for its effort to protect underground sources of drinking water during the production of oil and gas.

“Water is too precious to waste or pollute. By protecting our underground water supplies, we can help ensure healthy water for future generations,” said Donald. S. Welsh, administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

Minard Run is the first company recognized by the EPA mid-Atlantic region’s underground injection control (UIC) program, which was authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect public and private ground water supplies. The award recognizes an operator that has been involved in oil and gas related injection activity and has cooperated fully under the UIC regulatory requirements to protect groundwater resources.

From the mid 1980s through the early 1990s, Minard Run operated almost 1,000 enhanced recovery injection wells, which were regulated under the UIC Program. Minard Run fully complied with its regulatory responsibilities, including plugging all of these injection wells.

Unplugged wells can provide a path for oil and gas to migrate into underground sources of drinking water. The successful closure of these wells helped to assure the protection of the groundwater resources in this area.

9/24/2004