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Public Notice: Intent to Issue a Class I Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit for Chalk Cliff Limited, Maricopa, CA

How to Comment

Comments accepted through: 09/16/2020

EPA requests public comment on the Draft Permit and will accept comments in writing through the end of the comment period on September 16, 2020 (40 CFR §124.10). During this period, we encourage electronic submittal of comments online at www.regulations.gov under docket number EPA-R09-OW-2020-0359. Comments may also be sent by email to Mr. Ho at the email address listed below. If you are unable to submit comments electronically, or if you have any questions or require assistance submitting comments, please reach out to Mr. Ho at the email or phone number listed below.

ho.yenhung@epa.gov
(415) 972-3262

If you need assistance in a language other than English or if you are a person with disabilities who needs a reasonable accommodation at no cost to you, please reach out to Mr. Ho by email or phone.

During the comment period, any interested person may request a public hearing on the Draft Permit. A request for a public hearing shall be in writing, submitted to Mr. Ho, and shall state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing (40 CFR §124.11 and §124.12). EPA will schedule a hearing only if there is a significant degree of public interest in the Draft Permit. EPA will provide to the public a 30-day notice of any hearing on this matter.

Supporting Materials

All data submitted by the applicant is available as part of the administrative record for the Draft Permit. This Notice, EPA’s Fact Sheet, the Draft Permit, Chalk Cliff’s permit application, and other supporting documents are available for public review online at www.regulations.gov under docket number EPA-R09-OW-2020-0359.

UIC Permits in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9)

Publish Date: 08/14/2020

Summary

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, Groundwater Protection Section, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 (EPA) is providing an opportunity for the public to comment on its proposal to issue a Class I Non-hazardous Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit for Chalk Cliff Limited (Chalk Cliff or the Permittee). Chalk Cliff owns and operates a cogeneration power plant that includes an existing injection well, known as Chalk Cliff WD-2 at 29041 Hwy 33 in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, approximately 3.6 miles southeast of the city of Taft, California.

The Class I UIC Permit, if issued, would authorize continued operation of Chalk Cliff WD-2 for ten years. The fluids injected into Chalk Cliff WD-2 would be non-hazardous waste waters consisting of boiler blow down, cooling tower blow down, boiler feed water conditioning waste waters, and raw water filter backwash that are generated from the Chalk Cliff power plant and from any of seven (7) additional power plants, all owned by Western Generation Partners – Redwood Holdings, LLC (WGP) in the Central Valley of California. Injection into Chalk Cliff WD-2 would be permitted into the Monarch Sand within the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, at the perforated intervals of 3,462 feet to 3,670 feet, and 3,784 feet to 3,984 feet below ground surface.

Chalk Cliff WD-2 has been permitted as a Class II UIC injection well by the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) since 1990 because the Chalk Cliff power plant provided a byproduct of steam to assist nearby oil producers in the recovery of heavy oil. However, the plant’s steam sharing with oil recovery operations has decreased and is expected to cease in the future. Given this transition of operations, EPA and CalGEM agreed that Chalk Cliff WD-2 should no longer be regulated as a Class II UIC injection well. EPA, as the permitting authority for the Class I UIC program in California, required Chalk Cliff to seek authorization to reclassify Chalk Cliff WD-2 as a Class I non-hazardous injection well. After completing a thorough technical review of all information submitted by Chalk Cliff in their permit application, as well as the operational standards, monitoring requirements, and existing geologic setting, EPA believes the activities allowed under the Draft Class I UIC Permit (Draft Permit) are protective of underground sources of drinking water as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

EPA has made a preliminary determination to issue a Class I UIC Permit to Chalk Cliff pending this public notice. This action is being taken as provided by Part C of the SDWA and pursuant to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 124, 144, 146, and 147. CalGEM has indicated that once EPA makes a final determination to issue or deny the Class I UIC permit, they will revoke Chalk Cliff’s existing Class II permit.

Final Permit Decision and Appeals Process

After the close of the public comment period, EPA will respond to comments and issue a final permit decision pursuant to 40 CFR §124.15(a) and will notify all commenters regarding the Agency’s decision. The final decision shall be to either issue or deny the Permit. If comments are filed which request a change in the Draft Permit, the final decision shall become effective no sooner than thirty (30) days after the service of the notice of decision. Within thirty (30) days after the final permit decision has been issued, any person who filed comments on the Draft Permit, participated in any public hearing on this matter, or takes issue with any changes in the Draft Permit, may petition the Environmental Appeals Board to review any condition of the permit decision. Commenters are referred to 40 CFR §124.19 for procedural requirements of the permit appeal process. If no comments request a change in the Draft Permit, EPA’s final decision shall become effective immediately upon issuance unless a later date is specified in the notice of final decision.

Applicant or Respondent

Chalk Cliff Limited
29041 Hwy. 33
Maricopa, CA 93252

Docket Number: 

Permit #: R9UIC-CA1-FY17-4