Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart C - Protection of Natural Resources › Article I - Land Resources › Chapter 78 - OIL AND GAS WELLS › Subchapter C - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS › Section 78.62 - Disposal of residual waste-pits

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) After the removal and disposal of the
						free liquid fraction of the waste under §
												78.60(a)
						(relating to discharge requirements), the owner or operator may dispose of
						residual waste, including contaminated drill cuttings, in a pit at the well
						site if the owner or operator satisfies the following requirements:
(1) The waste is generated by the drilling or
						production of an oil or gas well that is located on the well site where the
						waste is disposed.
(2) The well is
						permitted under section 201 of the act (58 P.S. §
														601.201) or registered under section 203 of
						the act (58 P.S. §
														601.203).
(3) The requirements of section 215 of the
						act (58 P.S. §
														601.215) are
						satisfied by filing a surety or collateral bond for wells drilled on or after
						April 18, 1985.
(4) Compliance is
						maintained with the act and this title.
(5) The disposal area is not within 200 feet
						measured horizontally from an existing building, unless the current owner
						thereof has provided a written waiver consenting to the disposal closer than
						200 feet. The waiver shall be knowingly made and separate from a lease or deed
						unless the lease or deed contains an explicit waiver from the current
						owner.
(6) The disposal area is not
						within 100 feet of a stream, body of water or wetland.
(7) The disposal area is not within 200 feet
						of a water supply.
(8) The bottom
						of the pit is a minimum of 20 inches above the seasonal high groundwater
						table.
(9) The pit is designed,
						constructed and maintained to be structurally sound and impermeable.
(10) The pit is lined with a synthetic
						flexible liner that is compatible with the waste and has a coefficient of
						permeability of no greater than 1 x 10-7 cm/sec. The
						liner shall be of sufficient strength and thickness to maintain the integrity
						of the liner. The liner thickness shall be at least 30 mils. Adjoining sections
						of liners shall be sealed together in accordance with the manufacturer's
						directions to prevent leakage. The operator may use an alternate liner or
						natural materials, if the material and the installation procedure to be used
						are approved by the Department. Notice of the approved liners and installation
						procedures will be published by the Department in the
Pennsylvania
						Bulletin
.
(11) The liner
						shall be designed, constructed and maintained so that the physical and chemical
						characteristics of the liner are not adversely affected by the waste and the
						liner is resistant to physical, chemical and other failure during
						transportation, handling, installation and use. Liner compatibility shall
						satisfy EPA Method 9090,
Compatibility Test for Wastes and Membrane
						Liners
, or other documented data approved by the Department.
(12) The pit shall be constructed so that the
						liner subbase is smooth, uniform and free of debris, rock and other material
						that may puncture, tear, cut, rip or otherwise cause the liner to fail. The
						liner subbase and subgrade shall be capable of bearing the weight of the
						material above the liner without settling. If the pit bottom or sides consist
						of rock, shale or other material that may cause the liner to fail and leak, a
						subbase of at least 6 inches of soil, sand or smooth gravel, or sufficient
						amount of an equivalent material shall be installed over the area as the
						subbase for the liner.
(13) Prior
						to placing material in the pit, the liner shall be inspected for lack of
						uniformity, damage and other imperfections that may cause the liner to leak.
						The owner or operator shall correct damages or imperfections before placing
						waste in the pit, and shall maintain the pit until closure of the
						pit.
(14) Prior to encapsulating
						the waste within the liner, the free liquid fraction of the waste shall be
						removed and disposed under § 78.60(a).
(15) The liner shall be folded over, or an
						additional liner shall be added, to completely cover the waste and the waste is
						shaped so that water does not infiltrate the liner and is not confined above
						the liner.
(16) Puncturing or
						perforating the liner is prohibited.
(17) The pit shall be backfilled to at least
						18 inches over the top of the liner and graded to promote runoff with no
						depressions that would accumulate or pond water on the surface. The stability
						of the backfilled pit shall be compatible with the adjacent land.
(18) The surface area of the backfilled pit
						area shall be revegetated to stabilize the soil surface and comply with §
													78.53 (relating to erosion and
						sedimentation control). 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.