A rancher discovered an oil leak from an underground flowline connected to the Schaefer Number 2 well in Weld County, Colorado. The oil discharged into an irrigation ditch adjacent to the well. The irrigation ditch is connected to the Brighton irrigation ditch and the South Platte River, approximately 1.6 miles away. KP Kauffman reported the release to the State of Colorado on August 30, 2021. The EPA Region 8 Phone Duty Officer was notified on September 6, 2021. A Federal On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) deployed to the site on September 7, 2021, and observed oil in the irrigation ditch and downstream wetland area.
EPA Region 8 issued a Notice of Federal Interest to KP Kauffman on September 7, 2021. EPA is working with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to monitor KP Kauffman's clean-up efforts.
