Or. Admin. Code § 632-010-0192 - Disposal of Brine or Salt Water

In addition to the requirements of ORS 520.095(1), and in addition to applicable rules of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Oregon Water Resources Department, the following requirements apply to the disposal of brine or saltwater liquids:

(1) Disposal in pits, sumps or above ground tanks:

(a) Brine or saltwater may be disposed of by evaporation when impounded in excavated earthen pits, but only when the pits are lined with impervious material and a Water Pollution Control Facilities permit has been obtained from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality;

(b) Impounding brine or saltwater in porous earthen pits is prohibited. Earthen pits used for impounding brine or saltwater must be constructed and maintained to prevent the escape of fluid;

(c) The department has the authority to prohibit the use of any pit that does not properly impound water and to order the proper disposal of water impounded in the pit;

(d) The level of brine or saltwater in earthen pits may not rise above the lowest point of the ground surface level. All pits must have a continuous embankment surrounding them sufficient to prevent surface water from running into the pit. An embankment may not be used to impound brine or saltwater; and

(e) Brine or saltwater impounded in earthen pits may not escape onto adjacent land or into waters of the state.

(2) Disposal by Injection: Saltwater may also be disposed of by injection into the strata from which it was produced or into other proved saltwater-bearing strata pursuant to an Underground Injection Control permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

(3) Ocean discharge of saltwater may be permitted pursuant to a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 632-010-0192

GMI 1, f. 1-27-54; GMI 1-1979, f. & ef. 1-25-79; GMI 1-1982, f. & ef. 6-25-82; GMI 4-1985, f. & ef. 11-20-85; GMI 6-1990, f. & cert. ef. 12-5-90; GMI 2-1995, f. & cert. ef. 3-10-95; DGMI 1-2013, f. & cert. ef. 3-21-13

Stat. Auth.: ORS 520

Stats. Implemented: ORS 520.095