020-11 Wyo. Code R. §§ 11-20 - Corrective Actions and Compliance Schedules

(a) Corrective actions are required when a well is improperly sealed, completed, or abandoned, in which case operators shall provide the well information, as required in Sections 4(a)(xi) and (xii) of this Chapter, and the corrective action plan as required in Section 5(a) (xvii) of this Chapter. Where the Administrator's review of the plan indicates that the operator's plan is inadequate (based on the factors presented below), the Director may require the operator to revise the plan, prescribe a plan for corrective action as a term and condition of the permit, or deny the application.

(b) In determining the adequacy of corrective action proposed by the operator and in determining the additional steps needed to prevent fluid movement into an unauthorized zone, the Administrator shall consider the following criteria and factors:

(i) Nature and volume of injected fluid;

(ii) Chemical nature and volume of native groundwater;

(iii) Compatibility of injected fluid and native groundwater;

(iv) Potentially affected population;

(v) Geology;

(vi) Hydrology;

(vii) Proposed method of operation as required by Section 5(a)(x) of this Chapter or history of the injection operation if the corrective action is needed in response to amending new wells into an existing operation;

(viii) Completion and plugging records;

(ix) Plugging procedures in effect at the time the well was abandoned; and

(x) Hydraulic connections with unauthorized zones.

(c) Corrective action is also required if any water quality monitoring of an Underground Source of Water or unauthorized zone indicates the movement of any contaminant into an Underground Source of Water or unauthorized zone, except as specifically authorized in the approved permit or license, in which case, the Administrator shall prescribe such additional requirements for construction, corrective action, operation, monitoring, or reporting (including closure of the injection well and limitation of injection pressure) as are necessary to prevent such movement. The Administrator may impose these additional requirements by requiring the operator to revise the permit or license, by recommending the revocation of the permit or license, or by taking other appropriate enforcement action for violations of the permit or license.

(d) The status of corrective action on defective wells shall be reported in accordance with the requirements of Section 15 of this Chapter.

(e) When appropriate, a permit or license may include, or be revised to include, a compliance schedule leading to compliance with the applicable statutes and regulations. The schedule shall be applicable whether the operator is continuing or ceasing regulated activities.

(i) Any compliance schedule shall require compliance as soon as possible, and in no case later than three years after the date the schedule is put into effect. In addition:

(A) The schedule shall set forth interim requirements, the dates for their achievement, and a projected date of compliance with all the requirements;

(B) The time between interim dates shall not exceed one year; and

(C) The schedule shall specify dates for the submission of progress reports, no later than thirty days following each interim date and the final date of compliance.

Notes

020-11 Wyo. Code R. §§ 11-20

Amended, Eff. 11/13/2018. Amended, Eff. 11/17/2022.