On August 15, 2016, FX Drilling. Inc. was sentenced to pay a $100,000 fine after previously pleading guilty to charges stemming from a 2011 oil spill in northwestern Montana. The company negligently discharged oil into waters of the United States, in violation of the Clean Water Act, and failing to immediately notify federal officials in violation of the Oil Pollution Act 33 U.S.C. §§ 1321(b)(3), 1319(c)(1) (A). 1321(b)(5)). The Company has already paid more than $321.000 in clean-up costs. Charges were dismissed against field supervisor Quay Geza Torok.

On July 14, 2011, approximately 840 gallons of oil and production fluid leaked from a cracked line at an oil field on Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The spill spread over land nearly a mile to Cut Bank Creek where it was spotted by a rancher and reported to local tribal officials. They informed FX Drilling of the spill but the company never reported it to the National Response Center. Torok discovered the 3-inch line connecting two oil wells had cracked. The line was fixed but Torok and the company did not take steps to clean up the oil that had already leaked. This case was investigated by the U.S. EPA Criminal Investigation Division and the Blackfeet Environmental Office.

• Clean Water Act (CWA)
• Oil Pollution Act (OPA)