DSHW-2023-211283 - 0901a068812af651

DSHW-2023-211283 195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144880 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. 711
www.deq.utah.gov
Printed on 100% recycled paper
State of Utah

SPENCER J. COX
Governor

DEIDRE HENDERSON
Lieutenant Governor
Department of
Environmental Quality

Kimberly D. Shelley
Executive Director

DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND RADIATION CONTROL

Douglas J. Hansen
Director

December 15, 2023

Melvin Capitan, Consulting Project Manager
Montezuma Well Service, Inc.
P.O. Box 540
Montezuma Creek, UT 84534

RE: Routine Inspection – Montezuma Well Service, Inc. Recapture Brine Disposal

Dear Mr. Capitan:

On October 11, 2023, a representative of the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
performed an inspection of the Montezuma Well Service, Inc. Recapture Brine Disposal landfarm and
evaporation ponds located on Highway 262 approximately six miles east of Bluff, Utah.

The purpose of this inspection was to discuss future facility plans and address any concerns as regulatory
oversight is transferred from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining to
the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control. The
details of the inspection are documented in the enclosed inspection report.

If you have any questions, please contact Wade Hess by email at [e-mail] or by phone at
[phone].

Sincerely,

Brian Speer, Solid Waste Section Manager
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control

BS/WH/wa

Enclosure: Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist (DSHW-2023-211983)

c: Grant Sunada, Health Director, San Juan Public Health Department
Ronnie Nieves, Environmental Health Director, San Juan Public Health Department
Russell Seeley, District Engineer, UDEQ
Site Information
Finalized Yes
Facility Name San Juan County Non Facility Specific Inspections
Facility_ID 372
Facility Name San Juan County Non Facility Specific Inspections
Street Address Montezuma Well Services northeast of Bluff
City Bluff
ZIP Code 84512
County San Juan
Inspection Date 10-11-2023
Type of Visit Routine Oversite
Is the Visit Announced?Yes
40.711710, -111.888035
Weather Conditions 70°, sunny
Inspection Goal To discuss Oil and Gas Exploration and Production waste rules and
facility’s future plans.
Facility Contact Melvin Captain
Participants Wade Hess, DWMRC
Follow Up Inspection Needed?N/A
Recommended Follow Up Date
Depart Office Date 10-10-2023
Depart Office time 08:00 AM (-6 GMT)
Return to Office Date 10-12-2023
Return to Office time 05:00 PM (-6 GMT)
1. Pre-Inspection Review
1.1 Permit Review N/A
Comment This facility is not currently permitted by DWMRC.
1.2 Annual Report Review N/A
Comment This facility is not currently permitted by DWMRC.
1.3 Previous Inspection Review N/A
Comment There is not a previous inspection to review.
1.4 Facility Contacts Confirmed N/A
Comment N/A
Date Submitted: 11-03-2023 10:42 AM
Submitted By: [e-mail]
Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist
Page 1 of 7
1.5 Facility Contacted (If an
announced inspection)
Yes
Comment Melvin Captain was called 10/5/23
1.6 Local Health Contacted Yes
Comment Emailed Ronnie Nieves, San Juan County HD, 10/5/23
1.7 Other N/A
Comment N/A
2. Facility / Operational Controls (1-Good, 5-Poor)
2.1 Litter 1
2.2 Roads 1
2.3 Gate House Operations NA
2.4 Vectors 1
2.5 Communications 1
2.6 Recycling Area NA
2.7 Fugitive Dust Control 1
2.8 Waste Inspection Area NA
2.9 Scavenging Control 1
2.10 Open Burning NA
2.11 Fences, Gates, Locks,
Access Control
1
2.12 Working Face NA
2.13 Daily - Soil NA
2.14 Daily - Alternative NA
2.15 Leachate Collection System 1
2.16 Other 1
Comment (Required)Operational controls are satisfactory.
3. Signs Required / Properly Posted
3.1 Operating Days / Hours Yes
3.2 Directions & Procedures Yes
3.3 Emergency Numbers Yes
3.4 List of Unacceptable Materials Yes
3.5 Other Yes
Comment (Required)Signage posted.
Date Submitted: 11-03-2023 10:42 AM
Submitted By: [e-mail]
Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist
Page 2 of 7
4. Operator / Representative / Employees
4.1 On-site While Open Yes
4.2 Training Yes
4.3 Other Yes
Comment (Required)Sufficient.
5. Monitoring
5.1 Methane N/A
5.2 Random Inspections Yes
5.3 Leachate Yes
5.4 Ground Water Yes
5.5 Other N/A
Comment (Required)Leachate and groundwater is monitored.
6. Drainage / Erosion
6.1 Water Run-on Yes
6.2 Water Run-off Yes
6.3 Other Yes
Comment (Required)Controls in place.
7. Proper Storage / Isolation / Disposal
7.1 Special Waste N/A
7.2 Batteries N/A
7.3 Hazardous Waste N/A
7.4 Infectious Waste N/A
7.6 Dead Animals N/A
7.7 Asbestos N/A
7.8 Bulky Waste N/A
7.9 Contaminated Soil N/A
7.10 Ash N/A
7.11 Sludge N/A
7.12 Other N/A
Comment (Required)The above wastes are not accepted at the facility.
8. Cover
8.1 Intermediate N/A
Date Submitted: 11-03-2023 10:42 AM
Submitted By: [e-mail]
Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist
Page 3 of 7
8.2 Final N/A
8.3 Vegetation N/A
8.4 Other N/A
Comment (Required)No cover is applied to this waste.
9. Inspection Records
9.1 Random Inspection Report N/A
9.2 Gas Monitoring System N/A
9.3 Surface Drainage Control N/A
9.4 Daily Records N/A
9.5 Weight or Volumes N/A
9.6 Intermediate Cover N/A
9.7 Final Cover N/A
9.8 Self Inspection (Quarterly
Reports)
N/A
9.9 Deviation From Plans N/A
9.10 Permit, Permit Application,
and Rules Available
N/A
9.11 Other N/A
Comment (Required)Records not observed during inspection.
10. Monitoring / Sampling / Analysis Records
10.1 Explosive Gas Monitoring N/A
10.2 Leachate Sampling &
Treatment
Yes
10.3 Ground Water Sampling
Results
Yes
10.4 Other N/A
Comment (Required)Leachate and groundwater monitoring occurring.
11. Special Waste Records
11.1 Lab Analysis Results N/A
11.2 Manifests N/A
11.3 Treatment Certification N/A
11.4 Paint Filter Test Results N/A
11.5 Onsite Treatment
Documentation
N/A
11.6 Other N/A
Date Submitted: 11-03-2023 10:42 AM
Submitted By: [e-mail]
Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist
Page 4 of 7
Comment (Required)Records not observed.
12. Waste Tires
12.1 Acceptance procedures for
Waste Tires
N/A
12.2 Waste Tire Pile Segregated N/A
12.3 Estimated Quanitity of Waste
Tires
No
Number of Tires
12.4 Waste Tire Fund Training N/A
Comment (Required)Waste tires not accepted at facility.
13 Other Items
13.1 Notice of Inspections Form
Completed and Signed
N/A
13.2 N/A
13.3 N/A
13.4 N/A
Comment (Required)N/A
14. Special Permit Requirements
14.1 N/A
14.2 N/A
14.3 N/A
Comment (Required)N/A
General Comments
Comments Facility in good condition and the operations are satisfactory. Some land
farming cells have been closed under DOGM standards and facility plans to
close others ASAP. Solid waste is no longer accepted. Only one of the two
evaporation ponds is being used. Facility would like to sell pond salts but
has not successfully found a buyer.
DWMRC Inspector Signature
DWMRC Inspector Name Wade Hess
Date/Time 10-11-2023
Photos
Date Submitted: 11-03-2023 10:42 AM
Submitted By: [e-mail]
Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist
Page 5 of 7
Attach Photos
Evaporation pond.
Evaporation pond with solids.
Open landform cells.
Open landfill cells.
Date Submitted: 11-03-2023 10:42 AM
Submitted By: [e-mail]
Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist
Page 6 of 7
Form Locations
Date Submitted: 11-03-2023 10:42 AM
Submitted By: [e-mail]
Solid Waste Program Facility Inspection Report Checklist
Page 7 of 7