California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 2 - Department of Conservation › Chapter 4 - Development, Regulation, and Conservation of Oil and Gas Resources › Subchapter 2 - Environmental Protection › Article 3 - Requirements › Section 1776 - Well Site and Lease Restoration

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) In conjunction with well plugging and
					 abandonment operations, any auxiliary holes, such as rat holes, shall be filled
					 with earth and compacted properly; all construction materials, cellars,
					 production pads, and piers shall be removed and the resulting excavations
					 filled with earth and compacted properly to prevent settling; well locations
					 shall be graded and cleared of equipment, trash, or other waste materials, and
					 returned to as near a natural state as practicable. Well site restoration must
					 be completed within 60 days following plugging and abandonment of the
					 well.
(b) Sumps shall be closed in
					 accordance with Regional Water Quality Control Board and Department of Toxic
					 Substances Control requirements.
(c) Unstable slope conditions created during
					 site preparation shall be mitigated in such a manner as to prevent slope
					 collapse.
(d) Access roads to well
					 locations generally will not be covered by these regulations; however, any
					 condition that creates a hazard to public safety or property or causes
					 interference with natural drainage will not be acceptable.
(e) Prior to the plugging and abandonment of
					 the last well or group of wells on a lease, the operator shall submit a plan
					 and schedule for completing lease restoration. The lease-restoration plan shall
					 also include the locations of any existing or previously removed, where known,
					 sumps, tanks, pipelines, and facility settings. Lease restoration must begin
					 within three (3) months and be completed within one year after the plugging and
					 abandonment of the last well(s) on the lease. However, the Supervisor may
					 require or approve a different deadline for lease restoration.
(f) Lease restoration shall include the
					 removal of all tanks, above-ground pipelines, debris, and other facilities and
					 equipment. Remaining buried pipelines shall be purged of oil and filled with an
					 inert fluid. Toxic or hazardous materials shall be removed and disposed of in
					 accordance with Department of Toxic Substances Control requirements.
(g) Upon written request of the operator or
					 property owner, exceptions to this section may be made provided the condition
					 does not create a public nuisance or a hazard to public safety. Exceptions may
					 also be granted by the Supervisor when these requirements conflict with local
					 or federal regulations. If a written request for an exception is received from
					 the operator, consent to the exception from the property owner may be required
					 before it is approved by the Supervisor.
1.
						Amendment filed 2-17-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No.
						7).
2. Amendment filed 6-30-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter
						(Register 80, No. 27).
3. Amendment filed 10-21-82; effective
						thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 43).
4. Amendment of
						subsections (a)-(c), new subsections (e)-(f) and amendment of newly designated
						subsection (g) and NOTE filed 8-4-95; operative 9-3-95 (Register 95, No.
						31).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (e)
						filed 9-3-96 pursuant to section
						100, title 1, California Code of
						Regulations (Register 96, No. 36).
6. Change without regulatory
						effect amending subsections (e) and (g) filed 12-26-2006 pursuant to section
						100, title 1, California Code of
						Regulations (Register 2006, No. 52).
Note: Authority cited: Section
						  3013,
						  Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections
						  3106
						  and
						  3208,
						  Public Resources Code.