Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Applicability. The provisions of this
Section are applicable to discharges of wastewater associated with oil and
natural gas exploration and production activities.
B. Definitions. The following definitions
apply to terms used in this Section. Definitions of other terms and meanings of
abbreviations are set forth in LAC 33:IX.107 and 1105.
Average Monthly Discharge Limitation- the
highest allowable average of daily discharges over a calendar month, calculated
as the sum of all daily discharges measured during a calendar month divided by
the number of daily discharges measured during that month.
Ballast Water- uncontaminated surface
water used to maintain proper draft or to stabilize drilling or workover
vessels.
Bilge Water-water that accumulates in the
bilge areas of drilling or workover vessels.
Blow-Out Preventer (BOP) Control Fluid-
fluid used to actuate the hydraulic equipment on the blow-out preventer.
Boiler Blowdown- discharge from boilers
necessary to minimize solids build-up in the boilers, including vents from
boilers and other heating systems.
Brackish Marshes- those areas that are
inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater of moderate salinity at
a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal
circumstances do support, emergent vegetation characterized by a prevalence of
species typically adapted for life in these soil and contiguous surface water
conditions. Typical vegetation includes wiregrass (Spartina
patens), three-cornered grass (Scirpus olneyi), coco
(Scirpus robustus), and widgeongrass (Ruppia
maritima). Interstitial water salinity normally ranges between 7 and
15 parts per thousand.
Cement- portland cement, either dry or in
slurry form, including additives. Additives include such materials as
accelerators (e.g., calcium chloride), retarders (e.g., lignosulfonates),
weighting materials (e.g., barium sulfate), extenders (e.g., bentonite), and
lost circulation materials (e.g., walnut shells).
Composite Sample- a sample consisting of
a minimum of eight grab samples of effluent collected at regular intervals over
a normal operating day and combined in proportion to flow, or a sample
continuously collected in proportion to flow over a 24-hour period.
Daily Discharge- the discharge of a
pollutant measured during a calendar day or within any specified 24-hour period
that reasonably represents the calendar day for the purposes of sampling. For
pollutants with limitations expressed in units of mass, the "daily discharge"
is calculated as the total mass of the pollutant discharged over the day. For
pollutants with limitations expressed in other units of measurement, the "daily
discharge" is calculated as the average measurement of the pollutant over the
day.
Daily Maximum Concentration- the daily
determination of concentration for any calendar day or specified 24-hour period
that reasonably represents the calendar day for purposes of sampling.
Deck Drainage- all waste resulting from
platform washing, deck washing, equipment washing, rainwater and runoff from
curbs, gutters, and drains, including drip pans and wash areas.
Desalinization Unit Discharge- wastewater
associated with the process of creating fresh water from salt water.
Domestic Wastes- wastewater generated
from galleys, sinks, showers, and laundries.
Drill Cuttings- particles generated by
drilling into subsurface geological formations.
Drilling Fluids- any fluid sent down the
hole, including drilling muds and any specialty products, from the time a well
is begun until final cessation of drilling in that hole.
Drilling Mud- a heavy suspension used in
drilling a well, introduced down the drill pipe and through the drill
bit.
Effluent Limitation- any applicable state
or federal quality or quantity limitation that imposes any restriction or
prohibition on quantities, discharge rates, and concentrations of pollutants
discharged into the waters of the state.
Facility- a pollution source or any
public or private property or site and all contiguous land and structures, and
other appurtenances and improvements, where any activity is conducted that
discharges or may result in the discharge of pollutants into waters of the
state.
Fire Control System Test Water- surface
water and fire fighting agents discharged during periodic testing of fire
control systems.
Freshwater Swamps and Marshes- those
areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater of
negligible to very low salinity at a frequency and duration sufficient to
support, and that under normal circumstances do support, emergent vegetation
characterized by a prevalence of species typically adapted for life in these
soil and contiguous surface water conditions. Typical vegetation includes
maiden cane (Panicum hemitomon), Hydrocotyl sp., water
hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), pickerelweed
(Pontederia cordata), alligatorweed (Alternanthera
philoxeroides), and bulltongue (Sagittaria sp.).
Interstitial water salinity is normally less than two parts per thousand.
Intermediate Marshes- those areas that
are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater of low salinity at a
frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal
circumstances do support, emergent vegetation characterized by a prevalence of
species typically adapted for life in these soil and contiguous surface water
conditions. Typical vegetation includes wiregrass (Spartina
patens), deer pea (Vigna repens), bulltongue
(Sagittaria sp.), wild millet (Echinochloa
walteri), bullwhip (Scirpus californicus), and
sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense). Interstitial water salinity
normally ranges between three and six parts per thousand.
Native Mud Drilling Fluids- those
drilling fluids that do not contain heavy-metal-based additives such as chrome
lignosulfonate or weighting agents such as barite or hematite.
Noncontact Cooling Water- water that is
used to remove heat and which does not come into direct contact with any raw
material, intermediate, or finished product.
Pollutant- any substance introduced into
the waters of the state by any means that would tend to degrade the chemical,
physical, biological, or radiological integrity of the environment.
Pollution Source- the immediate site or
location of a discharge or potential discharge, including such surrounding
property as is necessary to secure or quarantine the area from access by the
general public.
Produced Sand- sand and other solids
removed from produced water, oil, or gas.
Produced Water- liquid and suspended
particulate waste material generated by the processing of fluids brought to the
surface in conjunction with recovery of oil or natural gas from underground
geologic formations or with underground storage of hydrocarbons.
Saline Marshes- those wetland areas that
are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater of salinity
characteristic of near Gulf of Mexico ambient water at a frequency and duration
sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, emergent
vegetation characterized by a prevalence of species typically adapted for life
in these soil and contiguous surface water conditions. Typical vegetation
includes oystergrass (Spartina alterniflora), glasswort
(Salicornia sp.), black rush (Juncus
roemerianus), Batis maritima, black mangrove (Avicennia
nitida), and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata).
Interstitial water salinity normally exceeds 16 parts per thousand.
Sanitary Waste- treated or untreated
wastewaters that contain human metabolic wastes.
Source Water and Sand- water, including
the entrained solids, from non-hydrocarbon-bearing formations used for the
purpose of pressure maintenance or secondary recovery.
Stormwater Runoff- aqueous surface runoff
including any soluble or suspended material mobilized by naturally occurring
precipitation events.
Territorial Seas- the belt of the seas
measured from the line of ordinary low water along that portion of the coast in
direct contact with the open sea and the line marking the seaward limit of
inland waters, and extending seaward a distance of 3 miles (as defined at 33
U.S.C. 1362.8).
Toxicity Unit (TU)- a numerical value
defined as the quotient of the discharged effluent concentration divided by the
effluent concentration producing lethality (TUa Toxicity Units, acute toxicity)
or the effluent concentration producing no observable effect (TUc Toxicity
Units, chronic toxicity).
Upland- any land area that is not
normally inundated with water and that would not, under normal circumstances,
be characterized as swamp or fresh, intermediate, brackish, or saline marsh.
The term shall have both a regional and site-specific connotation; for example,
naturally occurring and man-made topographic highs that are partially or
totally surrounded by swamp, marsh, or open water will be considered upland on
a local basis, but will not necessitate characterization of the surrounding
area as upland. The land and water bottoms of all parishes north of the nine
parishes contiguous with the Gulf of Mexico will be considered in toto as
upland regions. The designation of upland in those parishes bordering the Gulf
of Mexico shall be determined on a case-by-case basis with reference to the
presence of a regional expanse of emergent aquatic vegetation or open
water.
Visible Sheen- a silvery or metallic
sheen, gloss, or increased reflectivity; visual color; or iridescence on the
water surface.
Well Completion Fluid- salt solutions,
sometimes containing various additives, which are used to prevent damage to the
wellbore during operations which prepare the drilled well for hydrocarbon
production. Drilling fluids remaining in the wellbore during logging, casing
and cementing operations or during temporary abandonment of the well are not
considered completion fluids.
Well Treatment Fluid- fluids used to
restore or improve productivity by chemically or physically altering
hydrocarbon-bearing strata after a well has been drilled. These fluids include
substances such as acids, solvents, and propping agents.
Workover Fluid- salt solutions, sometimes
containing specialty additives, which are used in a producing well to allow
safe repair and maintenance procedures. High solids drilling fluids used during
workover operations are not considered workover fluids by definition and
therefore must meet drilling fluid effluent limitations before discharge may
occur. Packer fluids, low solid fluids between the packer, production string
and well casing, are considered to be workover fluids.
C. Effluent Guidelines. The following
effluent guidelines establish general and discharge-specific guidelines for
discharges associated with oil and natural gas exploration and production
activities.
1. General Guidelines
a. There shall be no unpermitted discharge of
waste oil, produced water, drilling fluids, drill cuttings, or other wastes,
nor any uncontrolled discharges of wastewater, including stormwater runoff,
from exploration and production sites.
b. A Spill Prevention and Control Plan shall
be prepared and implemented in accordance with the provisions specified in LAC
33:IX.901-907. This plan shall establish a program for regular inspection of
all storage tanks, separators, and related production and transfer equipment.
The plan shall also include provisions for, at a minimum, annual monitoring of
flow line integrity through a combination of visual inspection and pressure
testing or through the use of an approved alternate methodology. Inspection and
test records shall be maintained for a minimum of three years. The plan shall
also establish provisions for ready access to, and rapid deployment of,
containment booms and ancillary spill containment and cleanup equipment.
Discharges shall be controlled through the following measures.
i. All workover and drilling barges, and
production facilities shall be equipped with pollution containment devices that
under normal operating conditions prevent unauthorized discharges.
ii. All storage tanks, separators, and
related production and transfer equipment to be located in open water or
wetland areas, where building dikes is impossible or impracticable, shall be
installed on impervious decking provided with a system of curbs, gutters,
and/or sumps capable of retaining spills of oil, produced water, or any other
product or waste material. Storage and processing facilities located in open
water or wetland areas that lack appropriate spill prevention and control
appurtenances shall be modified to achieve compliance within four years after
promulgation of these regulations.
iii. All drains from diked areas shall be
equipped with valves that are kept in the closed position except during periods
of supervised discharge.
iv. In the
event of an unauthorized discharge of oil, produced water, or any other product
or waste material, a remedial response must be immediately initiated and the
Office of Environmental Compliance shall be notified in accordance with LAC
33:I.3901 et seq. The remedial response shall include immediate removal of
discharged materials and, to the extent practicable, decontamination of any
water, soil, sediment, or vegetation adversely impacted by the unauthorized
discharge. If immediate cleanup is not considered to be an appropriate remedial
measure, the responsible party shall notify the Office of Environmental
Compliance of the alternative remedial plan and shall promptly implement said
plan upon approval by the department. Submission of an alternate plan shall in
no way relieve the responsible party of its duty to contain and mitigate the
effects of the discharge.
v. Use of
detergents, emulsifiers, or dispersants to clean up spilled oil is prohibited
unless the use has been specifically approved by the department or is necessary
to maintain a safe work environment (i.e., minimization of the potential for
personnel injury due to slipping hazards). In all such cases, initial cleanup
shall be done by physical removal. Detergents, emulsifiers, or dispersants
shall not be employed to sink, obscure, or camouflage spilled materials or to
in any way hinder observation of a spill event.
vi. At least 2 feet of freeboard shall be
maintained in all earthen pits at any time. Any discharge of wastewater from
earthen pits directed to waters of the state must be conducted in accordance
with the provisions of a valid Louisiana Water Discharge Permit System (LWDPS)
permit.
2.
Produced Water
a. Freshwater Areas
i. All produced water discharges must be
specifically identified in a valid LWDPS permit.
ii. The discharge of produced water directly
onto any vegetated area, soil, or intermittently exposed sediment surface is
prohibited.
iii. There shall be no
discharge of produced water to lakes, rivers, streams, bayous, canals, or other
surface waters of the state in areas regionally characterized as
upland.
iv. There shall be no
discharge of produced water to freshwater swamp or freshwater marsh areas or to
natural or manmade water bodies bounded by freshwater swamp or freshwater marsh
vegetation unless the discharge has been specifically identified in an approved
schedule for discharge termination, and the discharge complies with all
applicable portions of LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.e.
v. A schedule for discharge termination shall
not be approved for a surface discharge initiated after the promulgation of
this regulation. The operator of a facility having a produced water discharge
in existence on the date of promulgation of these regulations shall be subject
to the prohibition against surface discharge of produced water unless the
operator establishes that surface discharge is the only immediately available
alternative and that the produced water discharge termination schedule is
limited in term to the period necessary to provide an alternate waste-handling
method. A compliance schedule that would delay compliance beyond July 1, 1992,
will not be approved.
b.
Intermediate, Brackish, and Saline Water Areas Inland of the Territorial Seas
i. All produced water discharges must be
specifically identified in a valid individual or general permit or order and
must comply with all applicable portions of LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.f.
ii. The discharge of produced water directly
onto any vegetated area, soil, or intermittently exposed sediment surface is
prohibited.
iii. There shall be no
discharge of produced water to natural or man-made water bodies located in
intermediate, brackish, or saline marsh areas after January 1, 1995, unless the
discharge or discharges have been authorized in an approved schedule for
elimination or effluent limitation compliance.
iv. Each operator of a facility with a
produced water discharge in existence on the date of promulgation of these
regulations shall submit a schedule within six months after promulgation
detailing a time frame for achieving compliance with the restrictions imposed
by Subparagraph b.i-x. The compliance schedule shall be prepared in conformance
with the following guidelines.
(a). An
operator conducting three or more produced water discharges shall submit for
approval a schedule of compliance that will result in phased elimination or
compliance with applicable effluent limitations for all produced water
discharges by January 1, 1995. The schedule is expected to call for termination
of discharge or compliance with applicable effluent limitations for
approximately one-third of the discharges existing on the date of promulgation
by January 1, 1993; for two-thirds of the discharges by January 1, 1994; and
for full compliance by January 1, 1995.
(b). An operator conducting no more than two
produced water discharges shall submit for approval a schedule of compliance
that will result in phased elimination or compliance with applicable effluent
limitations for all produced water discharges by January 1, 1995. One discharge
is expected to be eliminated or conducted in compliance with applicable
effluent limitations by January 1, 1994.
(c). An operator conducting a single produced
water discharge shall eliminate surface discharge or conduct the discharge in
compliance with applicable effluent limitations by January 1, 1994.
(d). Facilities with a total produced water
discharge of 250 barrels/day or less and a maximum oil production of 100
barrels/day or the monetary equivalent in natural gas, as of the effective date
of this regulation, will be provided an additional year to comply with the
requirements of LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.b.i-x.
(e). Operators discharging to the open waters
and at least 1 mile from any shoreline in Chandeleur Sound, Breton Sound,
Barataria Bay, Caminada Bay, Timbalier Bay, Terrebonne Bay, East Cote Blanche
Bay, West Cote Blanche Bay, or Vermilion Bay from production originating in
these areas will have two years after the effective date of these regulations
or one year after completion of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) study
concerning Louisiana coastal bays, whichever comes first, to show on a
case-by-case basis that their particular discharge should be exempt from these
regulations, if the DOE study, after scientific peer review, shows minimal
acceptable environmental impacts.
v. Requests for an extension of the
compliance period beyond the January 1, 1995, deadline will be considered if
submitted with the original compliance schedule and if the following conditions
are met.
(a). The operator establishes that
surface discharge is the only immediately available and economically feasible
alternative, that continued discharge does not represent gross potential for
unacceptable environmental degradation, and that the produced water discharge
termination schedule is limited in term to the period necessary to provide an
alternate waste-handling method.
(b). The proposed extension would not extend
the date of discharge termination or effluent limitation compliance beyond
January 1, 1997.
vi. A
compliance schedule will not be required for a surface discharge initiated
after the promulgation of these regulations; however, produced water discharges
authorized after the date of promulgation but before December 31, 1992, must be
eliminated or conducted in compliance with applicable effluent limitations by
January 1, 1995. Produced water discharges authorized after December 31, 1992,
must achieve compliance with applicable effluent limitations on the date of
discharge initiation.
vii. The
following effluent limitations establish the quantity or quality of pollutants
or pollutant properties that may be discharged by a facility subject to this
Section:
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Pollutant or Pollutant Property
|
Discharge Limitation
|
|
Benzene
|
0.0125 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Ethylbenzene
|
4.380 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Toluene
|
0.475 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Oil and Grease
|
15 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Total Organic Carbon
|
50 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
pH
|
6-9 standard units
|
|
Temperature
|
(as per LAC 33:IX.1113.C.4)
|
|
Total Suspended Solids
|
45 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Chlorides
|
Dilution required at a ratio of 10:1 (ambient
water: produced water). All other prescribed parameters must be within
acceptable limits prior to dilution.
|
|
Dissolved Oxygen
|
4.0 mg/L daily minimum
|
|
Toxicity (Acute and Chronic)
|
1 Toxicity Unit
|
|
Soluble Radium
|
60 picocuries/L (2.2 becquerels/L)
|
|
Visible Sheen
|
No Presence
|
NOTE: The numerical limitations listed above are to be
construed as minimum effluent standards and should in no way be considered
authorization to induce a violation of ambient water quality standards.
viii. Surface disposal of de
minimis quantities (less than 1 barrel per day) of produced water may be
authorized on a case-by-case basis. Effluent limitations for de minimis
discharges will be established on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the
provisions of the LWDPS permit authorizing the discharge, but will at a minimum
require that the effluent be treated to a point at which the discharge does not
generate a persistent visible sheen.
ix. There shall be no discharge of produced
water within the boundaries of any state or federal wildlife management area,
refuge, park, or scenic stream or into any water body determined by the
department to be of special ecological significance.
x. Produced water shall not be discharged
within 1,300 feet (via water) of an active oyster lease, live natural oyster or
other molluscan reef, designated oyster seed bed, or sea grass bed. No produced
water shall be discharged in a manner that, at any time, facilitates the
incorporation of significant quantities of hydrocarbons or radionuclides into
sediment or biota.
c.
Territorial Seas
i. All produced water
discharges must be specifically identified in a valid LWDPS permit.
ii. Surface disposal of produced water into
open waters of the Gulf of Mexico within the area defined as the territorial
seas may be authorized on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the
provisions of the LWDPS permit authorizing the discharge.
iii. The discharge of produced water directly
onto any intermittently exposed sediment surface is prohibited.
iv. Produced water shall not be discharged
within the boundaries of any state or federal wildlife management area, refuge,
or park or into any water body determined by the department to be of special
ecological significance.
v.
Produced water shall not be discharged within 1,300 feet (via water) of an
active oyster lease, live natural oyster or other molluscan reef, designated
oyster seed bed, or sea grass bed. No produced water shall be discharged in a
manner that, at any time, facilitates the incorporation of significant
quantities of hydrocarbons or radionuclides into sediment or biota.
d. Radioactivity and Toxicity
Analyses. A radioactivity measurement, acute toxicity test, and chronic
toxicity test shall be conducted using test methods approved by the
administrative authority on representative samples of all existing produced
water discharges that flow to the surface waters of the state. The results of
the radioactivity analysis and the average daily discharge rate (barrels per
day) shall be submitted to the department by August 20, 1989. The results of
the toxicity analyses and the average daily discharge rate (barrels per day)
shall be submitted to the department by February 20, 1990.
e. Discharge of Produced Water into
Freshwater Areas after January 1, 1997
i. In
light of LPDES general permit LAG290000 and the "Final Effluent Limitations
Guidelines and Standards for the Coastal Subcategory of the Oil and Gas
Extraction Point Source Category," published December 16, 1996, and effective
January 14, 1997 (the federal guidelines), facilities that discharge produced
water as authorized in a valid LWDPS permit as of July 1, 1996, shall cease the
discharge of produced water by July 1, 1997, unless the continued discharge is
specifically identified in an order.
ii. Each facility desiring to continue to
discharge produced water after July 1, 1997, shall submit to the department, no
later than May 1, 1997, a schedule to:
(a).
accomplish reinjection of the produced water as expeditiously as possible;
or
(b). return their produced water
which originated seaward of the coastal areas identified in LAC
33:IX.708.C.2.e.iv.(a) to those areas of origin.
iii. In addition to the schedule required in
LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.e.ii, the submittal shall include, at a minimum, a
certification by the facility operator of all of the following:
(a). surface discharge of produced water is
the only immediately available alternative;
(b). the produced water discharge elimination
schedule is limited in term to the period necessary to provide an alternate
waste-handling method;
(c). the
discharge of produced water has not been eliminated pending the installation of
injection systems or returning it to its area of origin (seaward of the coastal
areas identified in LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.e.iv.(a));
(d). the discharge will not cause a violation
of water quality standards in the receiving waters; and
(e). the discharge was previously
permitted.
iv.
Discharges of produced water pursuant to this rule shall not extend beyond the
date upon which the produced water discharge can reasonably be eliminated. In
no event shall a discharge of produced water to a major deltaic pass of the
Mississippi River or to the Atchafalaya River, including Wax Lake Outlet, below
Morgan City, continue:
(a). beyond January 1,
1999, for produced water generated in coastal areas as defined in 40 CFR Part
435.41(e);
(b). beyond January 1,
2000, for produced water generated seaward of coastal areas identified in LAC
33:IX.708.C.2.e.iv.(a); or
(c).
beyond January 1, 2000, for facilities that discharge produced water generated
in any combination of areas described in LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.e.iv.(a) and
(b).
v. There shall be
no discharge of produced water to a major deltaic pass of the Mississippi River
or to the Atchafalaya River, including Wax Lake Outlet, below Morgan City,
after January 1, 2000.
f. Discharge of Produced Water into
Intermediate, Brackish, and Saline Water Areas Inland of the Territorial Seas
after January 1, 1997
i. Notwithstanding the
absolute deadline of LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.b.v.(b) and in light of the federal
guidelines, facilities previously authorized by valid LWDPS permits as of July
1, 1996, to discharge produced water under LAC 33:IX.708.C.2.b.iv, pursuant to
an approved compliance schedule shall:
(a).
cease the discharge of produced water by February 14, 1997; or
(b). submit a revised schedule to accomplish
injection of the produced water as expeditiously as possible. This schedule
shall be received by the department on or before February 14, 1997. Submission
of a schedule is not a defense to an enforcement action for a facility's
failure to adhere to the terms and conditions of its permit or prior compliance
schedule. In addition to the schedule submission, a certification must be
submitted by the facility operator which includes the requirements of LAC
33:IX.708.C.2.e.iii. No compliance schedules in an enforcement order shall
extend beyond the minimum time demonstrated necessary for elimination of the
discharge and in no case beyond January 1, 1999.
ii. All terms, conditions, limitations, and
requirements of the most recent LPDES permit or compliance schedule or order
identifying a produced water discharge shall continue in full force and effect
unless the department provides otherwise in writing. A schedule to discharge
produced water after July 1, 1997, is solely within the department's
enforcement discretion and shall be granted only through a compliance
order.
iii. There shall be no
discharge of produced water to natural or man-made water bodies located in
intermediate, brackish, or saline marsh areas after January 1, 1999.
3. Drill Cuttings and
Drilling Fluids
a. The discharge of drill
cuttings or drilling fluids, including stormwater runoff contaminated by drill
cuttings or drilling fluids, must be conducted in accordance with a valid LWDPS
permit.
b. There shall be no
discharge of oil-based drilling fluids.
c. There shall be no batch or bulk discharge
of drilling fluids into water bodies inland of the territorial seas.
d. Drilling fluids or drill cuttings shall
not be discharged within the boundaries of state or federal wildlife management
areas, refuges, parks, or scenic streams or into any water body determined by
the department to be of special ecological significance.
e. The discharge of drill cuttings or bulk
drilling fluids (if allowed) must not occur within 1,300 feet (via water) of an
active oyster lease, live natural oyster or other molluscan reef, designated
oyster seed bed, or sea grass bed. No discharge shall be made in such a manner
as to allow deposition of drill cuttings or drilling fluids in or upon any
active oyster lease, live natural reef, or seed bed. If the discharge is to
take place within 1 mile of an area containing oyster leases, a lease map must
be forwarded to the Office of Environmental Services showing the location of
the discharge and surrounding leases. If the applicant considers any oyster
lease, live natural oyster or other molluscan reef, or designated seed bed
within 1,300 feet of a discharge of drilling fluids or drill cuttings to be
inactive, written documentation and evidence must be submitted to the Office of
Environmental Services for a determination to be made as to the acceptability
of such a discharge.
f. In fresh
and intermediate marsh areas, only drill cuttings generated on-site and their
adhering native mud drilling fluids may be discharged.
g. There shall be no discharge of drill
cuttings generated in association with the use of oil-based drilling fluids,
invert emulsion drilling fluids, or drilling fluids that contain diesel oil,
waste engine oil, cooling oil, gear oil, or other oil-based
lubricants.
h. Documentation shall
be maintained detailing the nature and volume of all constituents added
downhole in conjunction with drilling and workover operations. This
documentation shall be available for inspection on site during drilling and
workover operations and thereafter in accordance with the provisions of LAC
33:IX.311.J.7.
4.
Stormwater Runoff
a. An LWDPS permit may be
required for stormwater runoff discharges generated in conjunction with
exploration and production activities in upland regions.
b. The discharge of stormwater runoff
generated in conjunction with exploration and production activities conducted
in any region not designated as upland must be reflected in a valid LWDPS
permit unless appropriate prior dispensation has been received from the
department.
c. There shall be no
discharge of free oil or other oily materials from any facility as evidenced by
a visible sheen or residual oil deposits or stains in the drainage area
downstream of the discharge point.
d. Stormwater runoff shall not exceed 100
mg/L chemical oxygen demand, 50 mg/L total organic carbon, or 15 mg/L oil and
grease.
e. Maximum chloride
concentration of the discharge shall not exceed two times the ambient
concentration of the receiving water in brackish marsh areas and shall not
exceed 500 mg/L in freshwater or intermediate marsh areas and upland
areas.
f. The discharge of
stormwater runoff from diked areas employed for the purpose of secondary
containment shall be permitted provided:
i.
the discharge is generated from areas that have not been contaminated by
accidental spills or by intentional discharge of waste materials; or
ii. the discharge has been specifically
identified in a valid LWDPS permit.
5. Drilling Fluid Reserve Pit and Production
Pit Closure. This discharge category includes the discharge of treated
wastewater from drilling site reserve pits, ring levee borrow ditches, shale
barges, drilling fluid dewatering systems, and abandoned or inactive oil field
production pits that contain only nonhazardous oil field wastes. The treatment
and discharge of water from off-site oil field waste disposal pits or pits
containing waste other than nonhazardous oil field wastes are prohibited.
a. Discharge of treated wastewater must be
specifically identified in a valid LWDPS permit.
b. Effluent Limitations
|
Pollutant or Pollutant Property
|
Discharge Limitation
|
|
Volume
|
Report (mgd)
|
|
Oil and Grease
|
15 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Total Suspended Solids
|
50 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand
|
125 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Chlorides
|
500 mg/L daily maximum*
|
|
Total Chromium
|
0.5 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
Zinc
|
5.0 mg/L daily maximum
|
|
* See LAC
33:IX.708.C.5.d.
|
i. Discharge
limitations are instantaneous maxima and apply throughout the duration of the
discharge.
ii. Discharge pH shall
not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard
units.
c. Each discharge
will require specific prior approval from a representative of the Office of
Environmental Compliance. An analysis of the treated water shall be submitted
to and approved by a representative of the Office of Environmental Compliance
prior to discharge.
i. The initial sample of
treated water shall be obtained from the treated water returned to the pit or
other containment structure after operation of the treatment
equipment.
ii. A copy of the
initial and subsequent water analysis shall be available at the site during pit
closure or dewatering activities.
iii. The discharge shall be withdrawn at or
near the surface of the fluid in the drilling site reserve pit, ring levee
borrow ditch, shale barge, or drilling fluid dewatering treatment train
compartment.
d. Dilution
shall not be used to comply with any of the discharge limitations unless
specific written authorization from the Office of Environmental Compliance has
been obtained. The only parameter for which dilution will be considered is
chloride. Formal written requests for approval to allow dilution of chloride
levels should be addressed to the Office of Environmental Compliance.
Consideration of written requests to allow dilution of chloride levels in
drilling site reserve pits, ring levee borrow ditches, shale barges, drilling
fluid dewatering systems, and abandoned or inactive oil field production pits
will be made on a case-by-case basis and only if the following conditions can
be met.
i. Prior treatment shall have brought
all other applicable parameters to levels within permit limits before
dilution.
ii. The discharge after
dilution will be a short-term, one-time batch-type event.
iii. The discharge will not traverse, pool up
within, or in any other way contact agricultural lands.
iv. The discharge is made only to a receiving
water body exhibiting sufficient volume and assimilative capacity to preclude
elevation of ambient chloride levels above that established by the Louisiana
Water Quality Criteria for the basin segment or watershed within which the
receiving water body is contained.
v. The Office of Environmental Compliance
representative concludes that no adverse environmental effects will result from
the discharge of pretreated and diluted wastewater.
e. An on-site inspection by department
personnel may be required prior to discharge approval.
f. Additional monitoring, including daily and
24-hour composite sampling, may be required for any specific discharge event or
site at the discretion of the department.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
30:2001 et seq., and in particular Section
2074(B)
