Illinois Administrative Code
Title 62 - MINING
Part 245 - HYDRAULIC FRACTURING REGULATORY ACT
Subpart H - HIGH VOLUME HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC FRACTURING PREPARATIONS AND OPERATIONS
Section 245.850 - Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid and Hydraulic Fracturing Flowback Storage, Disposal or Recycling, Transportation and Reporting Requirements
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
The permittee shall notify the Department of the date when HVHHF operations are completed and shall dispose of or recycle hydraulic fracturing fluids and hydraulic fracturing flowback pursuant to the requirements of this Section.
a) Completion of HVHHF operations occurs when the flowback period begins after the last stage of HVHHF operations. The permittee shall notify the Department's District Office by phone and electronic mail within 24 hours after HVHHF operations are completed.
b) Hydraulic fracturing fluids and hydraulic fracturing flowback must be removed from the well site within 60 days after completion of high volume horizontal fracturing operations, except as provided in subsection (c) (Section 1-75(c)(5) of the Act).
c) Any excess hydraulic fracturing flowback captured for temporary storage in a reserve pit as provided in Section 245.825 must be either removed from the well site or transferred to storage in above-ground tanks for later disposal or recycling within 7 days after the fluid is first deposited into the reserve pit (Section 1-75(c)(5) of the Act). Excess hydraulic fracturing flowback cannot be removed from the well site until the hydraulic fracturing flowback is tested and the analytical results are provided pursuant to subsection (d).
d) Testing of hydraulic fracturing flowback shall be completed as follows:
e) Before plugging and site restoration required by Section 245.1030, the ground adjacent to the storage tanks and any hydraulic fracturing flowback reserve pit must be measured for radioactivity (Section 1-75(c)(7) of the Act).
f) Surface discharge of hydraulic fracturing fluids or hydraulic fracturing flowback onto the ground or into any surface water or water drainage way at the well site or any other location is prohibited (Sections 1-75(c)(9) and 1-25(c) of the Act).
g) Except for recycling allowed by subsection (i), hydraulic fracturing flowback may only be disposed of by injection into a Class II injection disposal well that is below interface between fresh water and naturally occurring Class IV groundwater (Sections 1-75(c)(8) and 1-25(c) of the Act). The Class II injection disposal well must be equipped with an electronic flowmeter and approved by the Department.
h) Fluid transfer operations from tanks to tanker trucks for transportation offsite must be supervised at the truck and at the tank if the tank is not visible to the truck operator from the truck. During transfer operations, all interconnecting piping must be supervised if not visible to transfer personnel at the truck and tank. (Section 1-75(c)(6) of the Act)
i) Hydraulic fracturing flowback may be treated and recycled for use in hydraulic fracturing fluid for high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations. (Section 1-75(c)(8) of the Act)
j) Transport of all hydraulic fracturing fluids and hydraulic fracturing flowback by vehicle for disposal or recycling must be undertaken by a liquid oilfield waste hauler permitted by the Department under Section 8c of the Illinois Oil and Gas Act. The liquid oilfield waste hauler transporting hydraulic fracturing fluids or hydraulic fracturing flowback under this Part shall comply with all laws, rules, and regulations concerning liquid oilfield waste. (Section 1-75(c)(10) of the Act)
k) A fluid handling report on the transportation and disposal or recycling of the hydraulic fracturing fluids and hydraulic fracturing flowback shall be prepared by the permittee on a form prescribed by the Department and included in the well file.