16 Tex. Admin. Code § 11.139 - Uranium Exploration Drill Site Plugging and Reporting Requirements
(a) Each
permittee shall plug each exploration borehole within three business days of
drilling completion unless otherwise approved in the permit. The permittee
shall maintain records of borehole logging, cementing dates, and rig logs and
make them available for inspection by the division.
(b) Each permittee shall plug each
exploration borehole in accordance with the following requirements.
(1) Each borehole shall be plugged with
Type-I neat cement from total depth to three feet below ground surface unless
the director approves an alternative plugging method that meets the
requirements of subsection (d) of this section.
(2) Downhole plugs shall be emplaced using
tremie tubing or drill string pipe. The remainder of the hole between the top
of the plug and the ground surface shall be filled with non-toxic drill
cuttings or soil.
(3) To ensure
that the proper plug depth is achieved, each borehole shall be checked for
settling within two business days after initial plugging. If the depth to the
top of the plug is not at the required distance from the surface, additional
cement or alternative plugging material, if approved, shall be added to bring
the plug to the required depth.
(c) Each permittee shall physically mark each
plugged borehole using the specific borehole marking method described in the
approved permit, and shall ensure the markings remain in place until the
borehole is inspected by the division. A permittee may use a section of poly
rope, a piece of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, or a similar device to mark the
location of the borehole.
(d) A
permittee may request in writing to use an alternative plugging method or
materials and shall demonstrate that the alternative methods or materials will
provide at least the same level of groundwater protection as Type-I neat cement
to protect and prevent communication with all formations bearing fresh water
and usable quality water.
(e) No
later than the last day of each month, each permittee shall file a completed
Form SMRD-39U (Borehole Plugging Report) with the division showing the plugging
information for each borehole plugged the previous month.
(f) Within 48 hours of drilling completion,
each permittee shall install and cement casing for each exploration borehole
that is to be used as a cased exploration well. Cased exploration wells shall
be completed in accordance with the standards set forth in the regulations of
the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation at 16 TAC §
76.1000(relating to Technical Requirements--Locations and Standards of
Completion for Wells).
(g) No later
than the last day of each month, each permittee shall file with the division a
completed Form SMRD-38U (Cased Exploration Well Completion Report) showing the
completion information for each exploration well cased the previous
month.
(h) Each permittee shall
plug boreholes or install casing in boreholes during the permit term.
Notes
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