DEP TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT FLA. COMMUNITY FROM REPORTED LEAK

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT FLA. COMMUNITY FROM REPORTED LEAK

~Pledges to Hold Quantum Resource Management Accountable~

JAY, Fla. - Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) experts are assessing the potential impacts of a reported leak on a Quantum Resource Management well that occurred Sunday afternoon in Jay, Florida, which the company now reports to be contained. A DEP site investigator was on scene less than an hour after the incident was reported. Preliminary information into DEP indicates that no long-term effects will result from the leak. DEP technical staff will now undertake a full investigation to identify why the well’s casing had to be repaired and what caused the temporary plug to become dislodged, which Quantum Resource Management suspects contributed to the incident.

“DEP is working to determine what went wrong and hold Quantum Resource Management accountable for any impacts to the environment resulting from this leak. We are assessing the potential of any possible threat to the land and the public right now and we will monitor the site to verify drinking water is safe,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr.

Initial reports from Quantum Resource Management indicate that a temporary plug in place to allow workers to repair the well casing became dislodged and resulted in the leak. The company reports that the leak is now contained and a new plug has been installed in the well. Quantum Resources Management said the well operator immediately stopped the leak and dispatched a response team to collect and properly dispose of the leaking fluid.

DEP is working expeditiously to ensure cleanup and monitoring efforts take place promptly and accurately. DEP crews are preparing to install four groundwater monitoring wells and one background well to provide information that will act as a baseline to compare the other results. Based on the data gathered from these five wells, a sixth well may be installed by DEP at a significantly greater depth.

A DEP inspector will remain on-site during the initial monitoring efforts. Those actions include air quality monitoring, soil sampling and protective berm inspections.  So far, all air quality results show no evidence of contamination.

Quantum Resources Management reported that no workers were injured during the leak and no evacuations were necessary because of the minimal amount of material released.  All production at the well has ceased until the well can be properly repaired and DEP inspections are complete.