DENVER – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a proposed Clean Water Act settlement with Texas-based Arrow Midstream Holdings, LLC in which the company has agreed to pay $106,500 for alleged Clean Water Act violations associated with two releases of produced water from pipelines into tributaries of Lake Sakakawea near Mandaree on the Fort Berthold Reservation.

EPA alleges that Arrow Midstream unintentionally released produced water from two pipelines into tributaries of Lake Sakakawea in 2019. These incidents included a Sept. 19-20, 2019, release of about 962 barrels of produced water from the Two Shields Butte 9-8-7 Well Pad and a Sept. 28-30, 2019, release of about 3,917 barrels from the Moccasin Creek 8-26 Well Pad. Produced water from oil wells contains high levels of dissolved salts that can degrade water quality and are toxic to aquatic life.

Arrow Midstream reported the incidents to the National Response Center and worked with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to contain and clean up the releases. The company also has taken action to reduce the likelihood of similar releases in the future, by removing the pipeline material involved in the releases from other pipelines on the reservation.

The proposed consent agreement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final approval by the EPA’s Regional judicial officer. The public comment period ends on April 29. To access and comment on the Consent Agreement, visit: https://www.epa.gov/nd/opportunity-comment-proposed-consent-agreement-a rrow-midstream-holdings-llc-alleged-violations.