EPA Issues Clean Water Act Order to Atlas Operating, LLC, to Complete Oil Cleanup After Discharge Impacted the Chikaskia River in Kansas

LENEXA, KAN. – RealEstateRama – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a unilateral administrative order (UAO) to Atlas Operating, LLC, following an estimated discharge of 33,600 gallons of a mixture of brine production water and crude oil from its facility into an unnamed tributary of the Chikaskia River and into the Chikaskia River.

EPA received notification from the National Response Center on the evening of Feb. 15 of a suspected discharge from an oil tank battery near Spivey, Kingman County, Kansas. An EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) was dispatched that evening and arrived on-scene the following morning to assess the discharge and its impact on the Chikaskia River.

EPA and its local and state partners observed impacts 12 river miles downstream from the tank battery and immediately began working with the responsible party to strengthen containment efforts and begin preparing for oil recovery and cleanup.

Under the direction of the EPA OSC, the responsible party has been ordered to:

• Stop the flow of oil into the unnamed tributary and the Chikaskia River
• Recover and remove oil, contaminated soils, and debris in, and around, the immediate vicinity of the discharge
• Recover oil and oil-impacted debris along the impacted shorelines
• Dispose of all wastes in accordance with state, federal, and tribal regulations

EPA is committed to ensuring the deliverables are met by the responsible party and work, as described within the order, is completed by March 13, 2026.

Discharges of oil and hazardous substances from onshore facilities are regulated by the Clean Water Act, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act.

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