25 Pa. Code § 78a.61 - Disposal of drill cuttings
(a)
Drill cuttings from above the surface casing seat-pits. The
owner or operator may dispose of drill cuttings from above the surface casing
seat determined in accordance with §
78a.83(c)
(relating to surface and coal protective casing and cementing procedures) in a
pit at the well site if the owner or operator satisfies the following
requirements:
(1) The drill cuttings are
generated from the well at the well site.
(2) The drill cuttings are not contaminated
with a regulated substance, including brines, drilling muds, stimulation
fluids, well servicing fluids, oil, production fluids, or drilling fluids other
than tophole water, fresh water or gases.
(3) The disposal area is not within 100 feet
of a watercourse or body of water or within the floodplain.
(4) The disposal area is not within 200 feet
of a water supply.
(5) The pit is
designed, constructed and maintained to be structurally sound.
(6) The free liquid fraction of the waste
shall be removed and disposed under §
78a.60 (relating to discharge
requirements).
(7) The pit shall be
backfilled to the ground surface and graded to promote runoff with no
depression that would accumulate or pond water on the surface. The stability of
the backfilled pit must be compatible with the adjacent land.
(8) The surface of the backfilled pit area
shall be revegetated to stabilize the soil surface and comply with §
78a.53 (relating to erosion and
sediment control and stormwater management). The revegetation shall establish a
diverse, effective, permanent, vegetative cover which is capable of
self-regeneration and plant succession. Where vegetation would interfere with
the intended use of the surface of the landowner, the surface shall be
stabilized against erosion.
(b)
Drill cuttings from above the
surface casing seat-land application. The owner or operator may
dispose of drill cuttings from above the surface casing seat determined in
accordance with §
78a.83(c) by land
application at the well site if the owner or operator satisfies the following
requirements:
(1) The drill cuttings are
generated from the well at the well site.
(2) The drill cuttings are not contaminated
with a regulated substance, including brines, drilling muds, stimulation
fluids, well servicing fluids, oil, production fluids, or drilling fluids other
than tophole water, fresh water or gases.
(3) The disposal area is not within 100 feet
of a watercourse or body of water or within the floodplain.
(4) The disposal area is not within 200 feet
of a water supply.
(5) The soils
have a minimum depth from surface to bedrock of 20 inches.
(6) The drill cuttings are not spread when
saturated, snow covered or frozen ground interferes with incorporation of the
drill cuttings into the soil.
(7)
The drill cuttings are not applied in quantities which will result in runoff or
in surface water or groundwater pollution.
(8) The free liquid fraction is disposed in
accordance with §
78a.60.
(9) The drill cuttings are spread and
incorporated into the soil. The loading and application rate of drill cuttings
may not exceed a maximum of drill cuttings to soil ratio of 1:1.
(10) The land application area shall be
revegetated to stabilize the soil surface and comply with § 78a.53. The
revegetation shall establish a diverse, effective permanent vegetative cover
which is capable of self-regeneration and plant succession. Where vegetation
would interfere with the intended use of the surface by the landowner, the
surface shall be stabilized against erosion.
(c)
Drill cuttings from below the
surface casing seat. After removal of the free liquid fraction and
disposal in accordance with §
78a.60, drill cuttings from below
the surface casing seat determined in accordance with §
78a.83(c) may not
be disposed of on the well site unless authorized by a permit or other approval
is obtained from the Department in accordance with §
78a.62 or §
78a.63 (relating to disposal of
residual waste-pits; and disposal of residual waste-land
application).
(d)
Alternative practices. The owner or operator may request to
use solidifiers, dusting, unlined pits, attenuation or other alternative
practices for the disposal of uncontaminated drill cuttings by submitting a
request to the Department for approval. The request shall be made on forms
provided by the Department and shall demonstrate that the practice provides
equivalent or superior protection to the requirements of this section. The
Department will maintain a list of approved solidifiers on its web site. The
operator does not need to request approval from the Department for use of
approved solidifiers.
(e)
Notifications. The owner or operator shall notify the
Department at least 3 business days before disposing of drill cuttings under
this section. This notice shall be submitted electronically to the Department
through its web site and include the date the cuttings will be disposed. If the
date of disposal is extended, the operator shall renotify the Department of the
date of disposal, which does not need to be 3 business days in advance. The
owner or operator shall also provide notice of disposal to the surface
landowner, including the location of the disposed drill cuttings, within 10
business days of completion of disposal.
Notes
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 78a.54 (relating to general requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 78a.55 (relating to control and disposal planning; emergency response for unconventional wells); 25 Pa. Code § 78a.56 (relating to temporary storage); and 25 Pa. Code § 78a.63a (relating to alternative waste management).
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