25 Pa. Code § 78.61 - Disposal of drill cuttings
(a)
Drill cuttings from above the casing seat-pits. The owner or
operator may dispose of drill cuttings from above the casing seat determined in
accordance with §
78.83(b)
(relating to surface and coal protective casing and cementing procedures) in a
pit at the well site if the owner or operator satisfies the following
requirements:
(1) The drill cuttings are
generated from the well at the well site.
(2) The drill cuttings are not contaminated
with pollutional material, including brines, drilling muds, stimulation fluids,
well servicing fluids, oil, production fluids or drilling fluids other than
tophole water, fresh water or gases.
(3) The disposal area is not within 100 feet
of a stream, body of water or wetland unless approved as part of a waiver
granted by the Department under section 205(b) of the act (58 P.S. §
601.205(b)).
(4) The disposal area is not within 200 feet
of a water supply.
(5) The pit is
designed, constructed and maintained to be structurally sound.
(6) The free liquid fraction of the waste
shall be removed and disposed under §
78.60 (relating to discharge
requirements).
(7) The pit shall be
backfilled to the ground surface and graded to promote runoff with no
depression that would accumulate or pond water on the surface. The stability of
the backfilled pit shall be compatible with the adjacent land.
(8) The surface 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 of the landowner, the surface shall be stabilized against
erosion.
(b)
Drill
cuttings from above the casing seat-land application. The owner or
operator may dispose of drill cuttings from above the casing seat determined in
accordance with §
78.83(b) by land
application at the well site if the owner or operator satisfies the following
requirements:
(1) The drill cuttings are
generated from the well at the well site.
(2) The drill cuttings are not contaminated
with pollutional material, including brines, drilling muds, stimulation fluids,
well servicing fluids, oil, production fluids or drilling fluids other than
tophole water, fresh water or gases.
(3) The disposal area is not within 100 feet
of a stream, body of water or wetland unless approved as part of a waiver
granted by the Department under section 205(b) of the act (58 P.S. §
601.205(b)).
(4) The disposal area is not within 200 feet
of a water supply.
(5) The soils
have a minimum depth from surface to bedrock of 20 inches.
(6) The drill cuttings are not spread when
saturated, snow covered or frozen ground interferes with incorporation of the
drill cuttings into the soil.
(7)
The drill cuttings are not applied in quantities which will result in runoff or
in surface water or groundwater pollution.
(8) The free liquid fraction is disposed in
accordance with §
78.60.
(9) The drill cuttings are spread and
incorporated into the soil.
(10)
The land application area shall be revegetated to stabilize the soil surface
and comply with §
78.53. 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.
(c)
Drill cuttings from below the
casing seat. After removal of the free liquid fraction and disposal in
accordance with §
78.60, drill cuttings from below
the casing seat determined in accordance with §
78.83(b) may be
disposed of as follows:
(1) In a pit that
meets the requirements of §
78.62(a)(5)-(18) and
(b) (relating to disposal of residual
waste-pits).
(2) By land
application in accordance with §
78.63(a)(5)-(20) and
(b) (relating to disposal of residual
waste-land application).
(d) The owner or operator may request to use
solidifiers, dusting, unlined pits, attenuation or other alternative practices
for the disposal of uncontaminated drill cuttings by submitting a request to
the Department for approval. The request shall be made on forms provided by the
Department and shall demonstrate that the practice provides equivalent or
superior protection to the requirements of this section.
Notes
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