Solid Waste Enforcement: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Concordia Parish Oil and Gas Exploration/Production Facility Enter into Settlement Agreement
February 27, 2026
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“LDEQ”) and White River Operating LLC (“WR”) entered into a Settlement Agreement (“SA”) addressing alleged violations of the Louisiana Solid Waste Regulations. See SA-SE-25-0083.
The SA provides that WR owns and/or operates an oil and gas exploration and production office in Concordia Parish, Louisiana.
LDEQ is stated to have conducted an inspection of the WR facility on October 10, 2020, to determine the degree of compliance with the Louisiana Environmental Quality Act and solid waste regulations. LDEQ representatives are stated to have determined that WR allowed the deposition of exploration and production (“E&P”) waste into a large hole in the ground. Representatives of WR are stated to have indicated that the E&P waste disposed of was generated by drilling activities at an oil well.
The Mississippi Oil and Gas Board denied the WR’s request to land farm the E&P waste.
The SA alleges the following WR violations:
- Caused and/or allowed the unauthorized disposal of regulated solid waste.
- Offered solid waste to a transporter that has not received authorization and/or the required permits necessary to receive and/or manage the generator's solid waste.
WR denies it committed any violations or that it is liable for any fines, forfeitures, and/or penalties.
The SA assesses a civil penalty of $6,000.
A copy of the SA can be found here.
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