Frequently Asked Questions

Environmental remediation is the process of removing pollutants or contaminants from soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water to protect human health and the environment. In the oil and gas industry, this typically involves cleaning up spills of crude oil, produced water, or other petroleum products using techniques like excavation, bioremediation, or in-situ treatment.

Paragon Environmental proudly serves the entire Permian Basin region, including Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. Our service area covers both the Delaware Basin and Midland Basin, and we respond to environmental emergencies 24/7 throughout the region.

Remediation is the umbrella term for cleaning up contaminated soil or groundwater — it can involve excavation and disposal, treatment, or in-place methods. Bioremediation is a specific approach that uses microbes to break down hydrocarbons, often enhanced with amendments. It can significantly reduce cost on suitable sites; we evaluate site conditions to determine when it is the right tool.

Our team brings more than 100 years of combined experience in the oil and gas industry and has completed over 1,000 projects across the Permian Basin.

Bioremediation uses naturally occurring microorganisms to break down petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soil. Paragon Environmental uses specialized equipment including soil tillers and shredders to apply microbial products that accelerate the natural biodegradation process.

A Phase I ESA is a records-and-site-reconnaissance review that identifies recognized environmental conditions — evidence of existing or likely contamination — without sampling. If a Phase I flags concerns, a Phase II adds soil, water, or vapor sampling to confirm and delineate them. These are standard steps in property transactions and site closures.

Vacuum truck work for produced fluids, tank bottoms, pit and containment cleanout, spill recovery, and liquids transfer — as a standalone service or as part of a larger response or remediation project.

Returning a disturbed site — a closed pit, a remediated spill area, an abandoned location — to a stable, re-vegetated condition consistent with regulatory closure standards. It is typically the final step in the corrective action process.

Supporting operators with air-quality-related regulatory requirements at production facilities — from identifying and addressing emission sources to helping maintain the documentation regulators expect. Requirements vary by state and facility type; we help operators stay ahead of them.

Yes. Small releases below reporting thresholds still deserve prompt cleanup — they are cheaper to address immediately than after weathering and migration, and good housekeeping records help in later audits and transactions. No job is too small to do correctly.

Under the OCD release rule (19.15.29 NMAC), a major release — 25 barrels or more of liquids, more than 500 MCF of gas, or any volume that may reach a watercourse, endanger public health, harm fresh water, or involves a fire — must be reported verbally or by e-mail within 24 hours of discovery, with written form C-141 notification within 15 days. Minor releases (over 5 but under 25 barrels) require written C-141 notification within 15 days.

C-141 is the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division's release notification and corrective action form. It is filed with the appropriate OCD district office to report a release and then track the site through remediation and closure. We support operators through the entire C-141 lifecycle.

Yes. Our New Mexico work follows Oil Conservation Division (OCD) and NMED requirements; on the Texas side we work within Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) requirements. SPCC planning is federal (EPA) and applies in both states.

Under EPA's rule (40 CFR part 112), a non-transportation-related facility needs an SPCC plan when its aggregate aboveground oil storage exceeds 1,320 gallons — counting only containers of 55 gallons or larger — and a discharge could reasonably reach navigable waters. Most tank batteries meet these criteria. We can evaluate your facility and support plan preparation and implementation.

Yes. Facilities with 10,000 gallons or less in aggregate aboveground storage and a qualifying discharge history are "qualified facilities" that may self-certify instead of using a Professional Engineer. Tier I (no single container over 5,000 gallons) can use EPA's streamlined template; Tier II self-certifies a full-format plan.

At least once every five years, and it must be amended whenever the facility changes in a way that materially affects its potential to discharge oil — new tanks, changed containment, or different products.

Reporting is only step one. The responsible party must remediate the release under 19.15.29 NMAC — typically site assessment, characterization, a remediation plan, closure sampling, and surface restoration/reclamation. We perform this work and produce the documentation regulators expect.

Yes. Every response and remediation project is documented — volumes, sampling, disposal, and site conditions — so the responsible party has a complete record supporting C-141 closure in New Mexico or the equivalent RRC process in Texas.

Remediation costs vary significantly based on the type and volume of contamination, depth of impact, site accessibility, and regulatory requirements. Paragon Environmental provides free site assessments and competitive quotes. Contact us at 575-631-6977 to discuss your specific situation.

Use the quote form on our contact page or call us. For emergencies, always call — the emergency line is answered 24/7. For planned work we will typically discuss scope, visit the site if needed, and provide a detailed quote.

Paragon Environmental offers 24/7 emergency response services throughout the Permian Basin. For spill emergencies, we can typically mobilize equipment and personnel within hours of your call. Call us immediately at 575-631-6977 for emergency spill response.