Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024
a.
Except for Cuttings Trenches and Pits constructed as an initial emergency
response measure pursuant to Rule 908.c.(1), all Pits constructed after January
15, 2021 will be lined.
b.
Skim Pits. Operators will not construct new Skim pits. All
existing Skim Pits, regardless of date of construction, will be lined. For any
unlined Skim Pits in existence on January 15, 2021, the Operator will submit a
Form 27 outlining the Operator's plan to delineate and remediate any associated
impacts and a plan to either properly line or close the Pit. The Form 27 for an
unlined Skim Pit must be submitted to the Director by April 1, 2021. If the Pit
will be lined and returned to service, the Operator will also submit and obtain
the Director's approval of a Form 15.
c. Operators will construct all Pits
according to the following specifications:
(1) Materials used in lining Pits will be of
a synthetic material that is impervious, has high puncture and tear strength,
has adequate elongation, and is resistant to deterioration by ultraviolet
light, weathering, hydrocarbons, aqueous acids, alkali, fungi, or other
substances in the produced water.
(2) All Pit lining systems will be designed,
constructed, installed, and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers'
specifications and good engineering practices. Operators will maintain records
demonstrating that the Operator followed manufacturers' specifications, and
provide them to the Director upon request.
(3) Field seams will be installed and tested
in accordance with manufacturer specifications and good engineering practices.
Operators will maintain testing results, repair documentation (including the
dates of tests and repairs), and provide them to the Director upon
request.
d. Operators
will construct all Pits, except those at Centralized E&P Waste Management
Facilities, according to the following specifications:
(1) Liners will have a minimum thickness of
24 mils. The synthetic or fabricated liner will cover the bottom and interior
sides of the Pit with the edges secured with at least a 12-inch deep anchor
trench around the Pit perimeter. The anchor trench will be designed to secure,
and prevent slippage or destruction of, the liner materials.
(2) The foundation for the liner will be
constructed with material containing no sharp rocks, debris or other material
that could puncture the liner. The foundation for the liner will have a minimum
thickness of 12 inches after compaction, cover the entire bottom and interior
sides of the Pit, and be constructed so that the hydraulic conductivity will
not exceed 1.0 x 10-7 cm/sec after testing and
compaction. Operators will maintain compaction and permeability test results
measured in the laboratory and field and provide the results to the Director
upon request.
(3) As an alternative
to the soil foundation described in Rule 910.d.(2), Operators may construct the
foundation with bedding material that exceeds a hydraulic conductivity of 1.0 x
10-7 cm/sec, if a double synthetic liner system is
used. However, the bottom and sides of the Pit will be padded with soil or
synthetic matting type material and will be free of sharp rocks or other
material that are capable of puncturing the liner. Each synthetic liner will
have a minimum thickness of 24 mils.
e. Operators will construct Pits used at
Centralized E&P Waste Management Facilities according to the following
specifications:
(1) Liners will have a minimum
thickness of 60 mils. The synthetic or fabricated liner will cover the bottom
and interior sides of the Pit with the edges secured with at least a 12-inch
deep anchor trench around the Pit perimeter or in accordance with the liner
manufacturer's specifications. The anchor trench will be designed to secure,
and prevent slippage or destruction of, the liner materials.
(2) The foundation for the liner will be
constructed with material containing no sharp rocks, debris, or other material
that could puncture the liner. The foundation for the liner will have a minimum
thickness of 24 inches after compaction, cover the entire bottom and interior
sides of the Pit, and be constructed so that the hydraulic conductivity will
not exceed 1.0 x 10-7 cm/sec after testing and
compaction. Operators will maintain compaction and permeability test results
measured in the laboratory and field and provide them to the Director upon
request.
(3) As an alternative to
the soil foundation described in Rule 910.e.(2), Operators may use a secondary
liner consisting of a geosynthetic clay liner, which is a manufactured
hydraulic barrier typically consisting of bentonite clay or other very low
permeability material, supported by geotextiles or geomembranes, which are held
together by needling, stitching, or chemical adhesives.
(4) As an alternative to the soil foundation
described in Rule 910.e.(2), Operators may use a double synthetic liner system.
However, the bottom and sides of the Pit will be padded with soil or synthetic
matting type material and will be free of sharp rocks or other materials that
are capable of puncturing the liner. Each synthetic liner will have a maximum
thickness of 60 mils.
(5) All Pits
will be constructed and operated with a leak detection system.
f. The Director may require the
use of additional liners or a leak detection system for the Pit or other
equivalent protective measures, including but not limited to, increased
recordkeeping requirements, monitoring systems, and underlying gravel filled
sumps and lateral systems. In making such a determination, the Director will
consider the site-specific information provided by the Operator, including but
not limited to surface and subsurface geology, the presence and depth to
Groundwater, the quality of the produced water, the hydraulic conductivity of
the surrounding soils, the distance to surface water and water wells, and the
type of liner.
