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 78.56 - Pits and tanks for temporary containment

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) Except as provided in §§
												78.60(b) and
						78.61(b)
						(relating to discharge requirements; and disposal of drill cuttings), the
						operator shall contain pollutional substances and wastes from the drilling,
						altering, completing, recompleting, servicing and plugging the well, including
						brines, drill cuttings, drilling muds, oils, stimulation fluids, well treatment
						and servicing fluids, plugging and drilling fluids other than gases in a pit,
						tank or series of pits and tanks. The operator shall install or construct and
						maintain the pit, tank or series of pits and tanks in accordance with the
						following requirements:
(1) The pit, tank or
						series of pits and tanks shall be constructed and maintained with sufficient
						capacity to contain all pollutional substances and wastes which are used or
						produced during drilling, altering, completing and plugging the well.
(2) A pit shall be designed, constructed and
						maintained so that at least 2 feet of freeboard remain at all times. If open
						tanks are used, the tanks shall be maintained so that at least 2 feet of
						freeboard remain at all times unless the tank is provided with an overflow
						system to a standby tank or pit with sufficient volume to contain all excess
						fluid or waste. If an open standby tank is used, it shall be maintained with 2
						feet of freeboard. If this subsection is violated, the operator immediately
						shall take the necessary measures to ensure the structural stability of the pit
						or tank, prevent spills and restore the 2 feet of freeboard.
(3) Pits and tanks shall be designed,
						constructed and maintained to be structurally sound and reasonably protected
						from unauthorized acts of third parties.
(4) A pit or tank that contains drill
						cuttings from below the casing seat, pollutional substances, wastes or fluids
						other than tophole water, fresh water and uncontaminated drill cuttings shall
						be impermeable and comply with the following:
(i) The pits shall be constructed with a
						synthetic flexible liner with a coefficient of permeability of no greater than
						1 x 10-7 cm/sec and with sufficient strength and
						thickness to maintain the integrity of the liner. 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. Adjoining sections of liners shall be sealed together to
						prevent leakage in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. If the
						operator seeks to use a liner material other than a synthetic flexible liner,
						the operator shall submit a plan identifying the type and thickness of the
						material and the installation procedures to be used, and shall obtain approval
						of the plan by the Department before proceeding.
(ii) The pit shall be constructed so that the
						liner subbase is smooth, uniform and free from debris, rock and other material
						that may puncture, tear, cut 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 that may affect the integrity of the liner. If
						the pit bottom or sides consist of rock, shale or other materials that may
						cause the liner to fail, 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.
(iii) The bottom of the pit shall be at least
						20 inches above the seasonal high groundwater table, unless the operator
						obtains approval under subsection (b) for a pit that exists only during dry
						times of the year and is located above groundwater.
(iv) If a liner becomes torn or otherwise
						loses its integrity, the pit shall be managed to prevent the pit contents from
						leaking from the pit. If repair of the liner or construction of another
						temporary pit is not practical or possible, the pit contents shall be removed
						and disposed at an approved waste disposal facility or disposed on the well
						site in accordance with §
														78.61, §
														78.62 or §
														78.63 (relating to disposal of
						residual waste-pits; and disposal of residual waste-land
						application).
(v) If the liner
						drops below the 2 feet of freeboard, the pit shall be managed to prevent the
						pit contents from leaking from the pit and the 2 feet of lined freeboard shall
						be restored.