Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart C - Protection of Natural Resources › Article I - Land Resources › Chapter 78a - UNCONVENTIONAL WELLS › Subchapter C - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS › Section 78a.56 - Temporary storage

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) Except as
						provided in §§
												78a.60(b) and
						78a.61(b)
						(relating to discharge requirements; and disposal of drill cuttings), the
						operator shall contain regulated substances and wastes used at or generated at
						a well site in a tank, series of tanks or other storage structures approved by
						the Department. The operator shall install or construct and maintain the tank
						or series of tanks or other approved storage structures in accordance with the
						following requirements:
(1) The tank, series
						of tanks or other approved storage structure shall be constructed and
						maintained with sufficient capacity to contain all regulated substances which
						are used or produced during drilling, altering, completing, recompleting,
						servicing and plugging the well.
(2) Modular aboveground storage structures
						that exceed 20,000 gallons capacity may not be utilized to store regulated
						substances without prior Department approval. The Department will maintain a
						list of approved modular storage structures on its web site.
(3) The operator shall obtain siting approval
						from the Department for site-specific installation of all modular aboveground
						storage structures for each individual well site where use of the modular
						aboveground storage structure is proposed.
(4) After obtaining approval to utilize a
						modular aboveground storage structure at a specific well site, the owner or
						operator shall notify the Department at least 3 business days before the
						beginning of construction of these storage structures. The notice shall be
						submitted electronically to the Department through its web site and include the
						date the storage structure installation will begin. If the date of installation
						is extended, the operator shall renotify the Department with the date that the
						installation will begin, which does not need to be 3 business days in advance.
(5) If open tanks or open storage
						structures are used, the tanks and storage structures shall be maintained so
						that at least 2 feet of freeboard remain at all times unless the tank or
						storage structure is provided with an overflow system to a standby tank with
						sufficient volume to contain all excess fluid or regulated substances. If an
						open standby tank or standby open storage structure is used, it shall be
						maintained with 2 feet of freeboard. If this subsection is violated, the
						operator shall immediately take the necessary measures to ensure the structural
						stability of the tank or other storage structure, prevent spills and restore
						the 2 feet of freeboard.
(6) Tanks
						and other approved storage structures shall be designed, constructed and
						maintained to be structurally sound and reasonably protected from unauthorized
						acts of third parties.
(7) Unless
						an individual is continuously present at the well site, operators shall equip
						all tank valves and access lids to regulated substances with reasonable
						measures to prevent unauthorized access by third parties such as locks, open
						end plugs, removable handles, retractable ladders or other measures that
						prevent access by third parties. Tanks storing only freshwater, fire prevention
						materials and spill response kits are excluded from the requirements of this
						paragraph.
(8) The operator shall
						display a sign on the tank or other approved storage structure identifying the
						contents and an appropriate warning of the contents such as flammable,
						corrosive or a similar warning.
(9)
						A tank or other approved storage structure that contains drill cuttings from
						below the casing seat, regulated substances or fluids other than tophole water,
						fresh water and uncontaminated drill cuttings shall be impermeable.
(10) Condensate, whether separated or mixed
						with other fluids at a concentration greater than 1% by volume, may not be
						stored in any open top structure or pit. Aboveground tanks used for storing or
						separating condensate during well completion shall be monitored and have
						controls to prevent vapors from exceeding the L.E.L. of the condensate outside
						the tank. Tanks used for storing or separating condensate must be
						grounded.