Louisiana Administrative Code, Chapter 33, Section XVII-3311 - Permitting Process | Louisiana Administrative Code

A. Applicability. This Section contains procedures for issuing and transferring permits to operate a solution-mining well. Any person required to have a permit shall apply to the Office of Conservation as stipulated in §3305 The Office of Conservation shall not issue a permit before receiving an application form and any required supplemental information showing compliance with these rules and regulations and that is administratively and technically completed to the satisfaction of the Office of Conservation.

B. Notice of Intent to File Application

1. The applicant shall make public notice that a permit application for a solution-mining well or wells, or an area permit, is to be filed with the Office of Conservation. A notice of intent shall be published at least 30 days but not more than 180 days before filing the permit application with the Office of Conservation. Without exception, the applicant shall publish a new notice of intent if the application is not received by the Office of Conservation within the filing period. If the applicant is dually permitting a well for both Class III solution-mining and Class II hydrocarbon storage or Class V storage, the public notice of intent for both applications may be combined.

2. The notice shall be published once in the legal advertisement sections in the official state journal and the official journal of the parish of the proposed project location. The cost for publishing the notice of intent shall be the responsibility of the applicant and shall contain the following minimum information:

a. name and address of the permit applicant and, if different, the facility to be regulated by the permit;

b. the geographic location of the proposed project;

c. name and address of the regulatory agency to process the permit action where interested persons may obtain information concerning the application or permit action; and

d. a brief description of the business conducted at the facility or activity described in the permit application.

3. The applicant shall submit the proof of publication of the notice of intent when submitting the application.

C. Application Submission and Review

1. The applicant shall complete, sign, and submit one original paper application form, with required attachments and documentation, and one copy of the same to the Office of Conservation. The commissioner may request additional paper copies of the application, either in its entirety or in part, if needed. The complete application shall contain all information to show compliance with applicable state laws and these rules and regulations. In addition to submitting the application on paper, the applicant shall submit an exact duplicate of the paper application in an electronic format approved by the commissioner. The electronic version of the application shall contain the following certification statement.

This document is an electronic version of the application titled (Insert Document Title) dated (Insert Application Date). This electronic version is an exact duplicate of the paper copy submitted in (Insert the Number of Volumes Comprising the Full Application) to the Louisiana Office of Conservation.

2. The applicant shall be notified if a representative of the Office of Conservation decides that a site visit is necessary for any reason in conjunction with the processing of the application. Notification may be either oral or written and shall state the reason for the visit.

3. If the Office of Conservation deems an application to be incomplete, deficient of information, or requires additional data, a notice of application deficiency indicating the information necessary to make the application complete shall be transmitted to the applicant.

4. The Office of Conservation shall deny an application if an applicant fails, refuses, is unable to respond adequately to the notice of application deficiency, or if the Office of Conservation determines that the proposed activity cannot be conducted safely.

a. The Office of Conservation shall notify the applicant by certified mail of the decision denying the application.

D. Public Hearing Requirements. A public hearing may be requested for new applications and shall not be scheduled until administrative and technical review of an application has been completed to the satisfaction of the Office of Conservation.

1. Public Notice of Permit Actions

a. Upon acceptance of a permit application as complete and meeting the administrative and technical requirements of these rules and regulations, the commissioner shall require the applicant to give public notice that the following actions have occurred:

i. a draft permit has been prepared under §3311 E; and

ii. a public hearing has been scheduled under §3311 D

b. No public notice or public hearing is required for additional wells drilled or for conversion under an approved area permit or when a request for permit modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination is denied under §3311 K

c. In Iberia Parish, no permit to drill or operate a new solution-mined cavern or to return an inactive solution mining cavern to service shall be issued without a public hearing. The owner or operator shall give public notice of the hearing on 3 separate days within a period of 30 days prior to the public hearing, with at least 5 days between each publication notice, both in the official state journal and in the official journal of Iberia Parish.

2. Public Notice by Applicant

a. Public notice of a hearing shall be published by the applicant in the legal advertisement section of the official state journal and the official journal of the parish of the proposed project location not less than 30 days before the scheduled hearing. If the applicant is dually permitting a well for both Class III solution-mining and Class II hydrocarbon storage or Class V storage the public notice of a hearing for both applications may be combined.

b. The applicant shall provide notice of a scheduled hearing by forwarding a copy of the notice to:

i. the Office of Conservation Injection and Mining Division;

ii. property owners immediately adjacent to the proposed project;

iii. operators of existing projects located on or within the salt stock of the proposed project;

iv. United States Environmental Protection Agency;

v. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries;

vi. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality;

vii. Louisiana Office of Coastal Management;

viii. Louisiana Office of Conservation, Pipeline Division;

ix. Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Division of Archaeology;

x. the governing authority for the parish of the proposed project; and

xi. any other interested parties.

3. Public Notice Contents. Public notices shall contain the following minimum information:

a. name and address of the permit applicant and, if different, the facility or activity regulated by the permit;

b. name and address of the regulatory agency processing the permit action;

c. name, address, and phone number of a person within the regulatory agency where interested persons may obtain information concerning the application or permit action;

d. a brief description of the business conducted at the facility or activity described in the permit application;

e. a statement that a draft permit has been prepared under §3311 E;

f. a brief description of the public comment procedures;

g. a brief statement of procedures to request a hearing (unless a hearing has already been scheduled) and other procedures by which the public may participate in the final permit decision;

h. the time, place, and a brief description of the nature and purpose of the public hearing, if one has already been scheduled;

i. a reference to the date of any previous public notices relating to the permit;

j. any additional information considered necessary or proper by the commissioner.

4. Application Availability for Public Review

a. The applicant shall file at least one copy of the complete permit application with:

i. the local governing authority of the parish of the proposed project location at least 30 days before the scheduled public hearing to be available for public review; and

ii. in a public library in the parish of the proposed project location.

b. A duplicate of the complete permit application in electronic format shall be submitted to the Office of Conservation.

E. Draft Permit

1. Once an application is complete, the Office of Conservation shall prepare a draft permit (Order) or deny the application. Draft permits shall be accompanied by a fact sheet, be publicly noticed, and made available for public comment.

2. The applicant may appeal the decision to deny the application in a letter to the commissioner who may then call a public hearing through §3311 D

3. If the commissioner prepares a draft permit, it shall contain the following information where appropriate:

a. all conditions under§3307 and §3309;

b. all compliance schedules under §3309 L; and

c. all monitoring requirements under applicable Paragraphs in §3323

F. Fact Sheet. The Office of Conservation shall prepare a fact sheet for every draft permit. It shall briefly set forth principal facts and significant factual, legal, and policy questions considered in preparing the draft permit.

1. The fact sheet shall include, when applicable:

a. a brief description of the type of facility or activity that is the subject of the draft permit or application;

b. the type and proposed quantity of material to be injected;

c. a brief summary of the basis for the draft permit conditions including references to applicable statutory or regulatory provision;

d. a description of the procedures for reaching a final decision on the draft permit or application including the beginning and ending date of the public comment period of §3311 H, the address where comments shall be received, and any other procedures whereby the public may participate in the final decision. The public notice shall allow 30 days for public comment;

e. reasons why any requested variances or alternative to required standards do or do not appear justified;

f. procedures for requesting a hearing and the nature of that hearing; and

g. the name and telephone number of a person within the permitting agency to contact for additional information;

h. that due consideration has been given to alternative sources of water for the leaching of cavities.

2. The fact sheet shall be distributed to the permit applicant, all persons identified in §3311. G 2, and, on request, to any interested person.

3. The fact sheet shall be distributed to the permit applicant, all persons identified in §3311.D 2, and, on request, to any interested person.

G. Public Hearing

1. If a public hearing has been requested, the Office of Conservation shall fix a time, date, and location for a public hearing. The public hearing shall be held in the parish of the proposed project location. The cost of the public hearing is set by LAC 43:XIX.Chapter 7 (Fees, as amended) and is the responsibility of the applicant. If the applicant is dually permitting a well for both Class III solution-mining and Class II hydrocarbon storage or Class V gas storage, both applications may be considered at the same public hearing.

2. The public hearing shall be fact finding in nature and not subject to the procedural requirements of the Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act. All public hearings shall be publicly noticed as required by these rules and regulations.

3. At the hearing, any person may make oral statements or submit written statements and data concerning the application or permit action being the basis of the hearing. Reasonable limits may be set upon the time allowed for oral statements; therefore, submission of written statements may be required. The hearing officer may extend the comment period by so stating before the close of the hearing.

4. A transcript shall be made of the hearing and such transcript shall be available for public review.

5. Repealed.

H. Public Comments, Response to Comments, and Permit Issuance

1. Any interested person may submit written comments concerning the permitting activity during the public comment period. All comments pertinent and significant to the permitting activity shall be considered in making the final permit decision.

2. The Office of Conservation shall issue a response to all pertinent and significant comments as an attachment to and at the time of the final permit decision. The final permit with response to comments shall be made available to the public. The response shall:

a. specify which provisions, if any, of the draft permit have been changed in the final permit decision, and the reasons for the change; and

b. briefly describe and respond to all significant comments on the draft permit or the permit application raised during the public comment period, or hearing..

3. The Office of Conservation may issue a final permit decision within 30 days following the close of the public comment period; however, this time may be extended due to the nature, complexity, and volume of public comments received.

4. A final permit decision shall be effective on the date of issuance.

5. The owner or operator of a solution-mined cavern permit shall record a certified survey plat and final permit, which shall include any orders, permits to construct, and permits to inject, in the mortgage and conveyance records of the parish in which the property is located. A date/file stamped copy of the plat and final permit is to be furnished to the Office of Conservation within 15 days of its recording. If an owner or operator fails or refuses to record such notice, the commissioner may, if he determines that the public interest requires, and after due notice and an opportunity for a hearing has been given to the owner and operator, cause such notice to be recorded.

6. Approval or the granting of a permit to construct or convert a solution-mining well shall be valid for a period of two years and if not begun in that time, the permit shall be null and void. The permittee may request an extension of this two year requirement; however, the commissioner shall approve the request for one year only for just cause and only if the conditions existing at the time the permit was issued have not changed. The permittee shall have the burden of proving claims of just cause.

I. Permit Application Denial

1. The Office of Conservation may refuse to issue, reissue, or reinstate a permit or authorization if an applicant or operator has delinquent, finally determined violations of the Office of Conservation or unpaid penalties or fees, or if a history of past violations demonstrates the applicant's or operator's unwillingness to comply with permit or regulatory requirements.

2. If a permit application is denied, the applicant may request a review of the Office of Conservation's decision to deny the permit application. Such request shall be made in writing and shall contain facts or reasons supporting the request for review.

3. Grounds for permit application denial review shall be limited to the following reasons:

a. the decision is contrary to the laws of the state, applicable regulations, or evidence presented in or as a supplement to the permit application;

b. the applicant has discovered since the permit application public hearing or permit denial, evidence important to the issues that the applicant could not with due diligence have obtained before or during the initial permit application review;

c. there is a showing that issues not previously considered should be examined so as to dispose of the matter; or

d. there is other good ground for further consideration of the issues and evidence in the public interest.

J. Permit Transfer

1. Applicability. A permit may be transferred to a new owner or operator only upon written approval from the Office of Conservation. Written approval must clearly show that the permit has been transferred. It is a violation of these rules and regulations to operate a solution-mining well without a permit or other authorization if a person attempting to acquire a permit transfer allows operation of the solution-mining well before receiving written approval from the Office of Conservation.

2. Procedures

a. The proposed new owner or operator must apply for and receive an operator code by submitting a completed Organization Report (Form OR-1), or subsequent form, to the Office of Conservation.

b. The current operator shall submit an application for permit transfer at least 30 days before the proposed permit transfer date. The application shall contain the following:

i. name and address of the proposed new owner or operator;

ii. date of proposed permit transfer; and

iii. a written agreement between the existing and new owner or operator containing a specific date for transfer of permit responsibility, financial responsibility, and liability between them.

c. If no agreement described in §3311. J.2.b iii above is provided, responsibility for compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit and liability for any violation will shift from the existing operator to the new operator on the date the transfer is approved.

d. The new operator shall submit an application for a change of operator using Form MD-10-R-A, or subsequent form, to the Office of Conservation containing the signatories of §3305. D and E along with the appropriate filing fee.

e. The new operator shall submit evidence of financial responsibility under §3309 B

f. If a person attempting to acquire a permit causes or allows operation of the facility before approval by the commissioner, it shall be considered a violation of these rules for operating without a permit or other authorization.

g. If the commissioner does not notify the existing operator and the proposed new owner or operator of his intent to modify or revoke and reissue the permit under §3311. K.3.b the transfer is effective on the date specified in the agreement mentioned in §3311. J.2.b iii above.

h. Any additional information as may be required to be submitted by these regulations or the Office of Conservation.

K. Permit Suspension, Modification, Revocation and Reissuance, Termination. This subsection sets forth the standards and requirements for applications and actions concerning suspension, modification, revocation and reissuance, termination, and renewal of permits. A draft permit must be prepared and other applicable procedures must be followed if a permit modification satisfies the criteria of this subsection. A draft permit, public notification, or public participation is not required for minor permit modifications defined in §3311. K 6

1. Permit Actions

a. The permit may be suspended, modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for cause.

b. The operator shall furnish the Office of Conservation within 30 days any information that the Office of Conservation may request to determine whether cause exists for suspending, modifying, revoking and reissuing, or terminating a permit, or to determine compliance with the permit. Upon request, the operator shall furnish the Office of Conservation with copies of records required to be kept by the permit.

c. The Office of Conservation may, upon its own initiative or at the request of any interested person, review any permit to determine if cause exists to suspend, modify, revoke and reissue, or terminate the permit for the reasons specified in §3311. K 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. All requests shall be in writing and shall contain facts or reasons supporting the request.

d. If the Office of Conservation decides the request is not justified, the person making the request shall be sent a brief written response giving a reason for the decision. Denials of requests for suspension, modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination are not subject to public notice, public comment, or public hearings.

e. If the Office of Conservation decides to suspend, modify, or revoke and reissue a permit under §3311. K 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, additional information may be requested and, in the case of a modified permit, may require the submission of an updated permit application. In the case of revoked and reissued permits, the Office of Conservation shall require the submission of a new application.

f. The suitability of an existing solution-mining well location shall not be considered at the time of permit modification or revocation and reissuance unless new information or standards indicate continued operation at the site endangers the environment, or the health, safety and welfare of the public which was unknown at the time of permit issuance. If the solution-mining well location is no longer suitable for its intended purpose, it shall be closed according to applicable sections of these rules and regulations.

2. Suspension of Permit. The Office of Conservation may suspend the operator's right to solution-mine until violations are corrected. If violations are corrected, the Office of Conservation may lift the suspension. Suspension of a permit and/or subsequent corrections of the causes for the suspension by the operator shall not preclude the Office of Conservation from terminating the permit, if necessary. The Office of Conservation shall issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the operator of violations of the permit or these regulations that list the specific violations. If the operator fails to comply with the NOV by correcting the cited violations within the date specified in the NOV, the Office of Conservation shall issue a Compliance Order requiring the violations to be corrected within a specified time and may include an assessment of civil penalties. If the operator fails to take corrective action within the time specified in the Compliance Order, the Office of Conservation shall assess a civil penalty, and shall suspend, revoke, or terminate the permit.

3. Modification or Revocation and Reissuance of Permits. The following are causes for modification and may be causes for revocation and reissuance of permits.

a. Alterations. There are materials and substantial alterations or additions to the permitted facility or activity which occurred after permit issuance which justify the application of permit conditions that are different or absent in the existing permit.

b. Information. The Office of Conservation has received information pertinent to the permit. Permits may be modified during their terms for this cause only if the information was not available at the time of permit issuance (other than revised regulations, guidance, or test methods) and would have justified the application of different permit conditions at the time of issuance. Cause shall include any information indicating that cumulative effects on the environment, or the health, safety and welfare of the public are unacceptable.

c. New Regulations

i. The standards or regulations on which the permit was based have been changed by promulgation of new or amended standards or regulations or by judicial decision after the permit was issued and conformance with the changed standards or regulations is necessary for the protection of the environment, or the health, safety and welfare of the public. Permits may be modified during their terms when:

(a). the permit condition to be modified was based on a promulgated regulation or guideline;

(b). there has been a revision, withdrawal, or modification of that portion of the regulation or guideline on which the permit condition was based; or

(c). an operator requests modification within 90 days after Louisiana Register notice of the action on which the request is based.

ii. The permit may be modified as a minor modification without providing for public comment when standards or regulations on which the permit was based have been changed by withdrawal of standards or regulations or by promulgation of amended standards or regulations which impose less stringent requirements on the permitted activity or facility and the operator requests to have permit conditions based on the withdrawn or revised standards or regulations deleted from his permit.

iii. For judicial decisions, a court of competent jurisdiction has remanded and stayed Office of Conservation regulations or guidelines and all appeals have been exhausted, if the remand and stay concern that portion of the regulations or guidelines on which the permit condition was based and a request is filed by the operator to have permit conditions based on the remanded or stayed standards or regulations deleted from his permit.

d. Compliance Schedules. The Office of Conservation determines good cause exists for modification of a compliance schedule, such as an act of God, strike, flood, or materials shortage or other events over which the operator has little or no control and for which there is no reasonable available remedy.

4. Causes for Modification or Revocation and Reissuance. The following are causes to modify or, alternatively, revoke and reissue a permit.

a. Cause exists for termination under §3311. K 7, and the Office of Conservation determines that modification or revocation and reissuance is appropriate.

b. The Office of Conservation has received notification of a proposed transfer of the permit and the transfer is determined not to be a minor permit modification. A permit may be modified to reflect a transfer after the effective date as per §3311. J.2.b ii but will not be revoked and reissued after the effective date except upon the request of the new operator.

5. Facility Siting. Suitability of an existing facility location will not be considered at the time of permit modification or revocation and reissuance unless new information or standards indicate that continued operations at the site pose a threat to the health or safety of persons or the environment which was unknown at the time of the permit issuance. A change of injection site or facility location may require modification or revocation and issuance as determined to be appropriate by the commissioner.

6. Minor Modifications of Permits. The Office of Conservation may modify a permit to make corrections or allowances for changes in the permitted activity listed in this subsection without issuing a draft permit and providing for public participation. Minor modifications may only:

a. correct administrative or make informational changes;

b. correct typographical errors;

c. amend the frequency of or procedures for monitoring, reporting, sampling, or maintenance activities;

d. change an interim compliance date in a schedule of compliance, provided the new date does not interfere with attainment of the final compliance date requirement;

e. allow for a change in ownership or operational control of a solution-mining well where the Office of Conservation determines that no other change in the permit is necessary, provided that a written agreement containing a specific date for transfer of permit responsibility, coverage, and liability between the current and new permittees has been submitted to the Office of Conservation;

f. change quantities or types of fluids injected which are within the capacity of the facility as permitted and, in the judgment of the commissioner, would not interfere with the operation of the facility or its ability to meet conditions prescribed in the permit, and would not change its classification;

g. change construction requirements or plans approved by the Office of Conservation provided that any such alteration is in compliance with these rules and regulations. No such changes may be physically incorporated into construction of the solution-mining well, cavern, or surface facility before written approval from the Office of Conservation; or

h. amend a closure or post-closure plan.

7. Termination of Permits

a. The Office of Conservation may terminate a permit during its term for the following causes:

i. noncompliance by the operator with any condition of the permit;

ii. the operator's failure in the application or during the permit issuance process to fully disclose all relevant facts, or the operator's misrepresentation of any relevant facts at any time; or

iii. a determination that continued operation of the permitted activity cannot be conducted in a way that is protective of the environment, or the health, safety and welfare of the public.

b. If the Office of Conservation decides to terminate a permit, the Office shall issue a notice of intent to terminate. A notice of intent to terminate is a type of draft permit that follows the same procedures as any draft permit prepared under §3311.E The Office of Conservation may alternatively decide to modify or revoke and reissue a permit for the causes in §3311.K 7

Louisiana Administrative CodeTitle 43 - NATURAL RESOURCESPart XVII - Office of Conservation-Injection and MiningSubpart 5 - Statewide Order No. 29-M-3Chapter 33 - Class III (Solution-Mining) Injection WellsSection XVII-3311 - Permitting Process

Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 43 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Part XVII - Office of Conservation-Injection and Mining
Subpart 5 - Statewide Order No. 29-M-3
Chapter 33 - Class III (Solution-Mining) Injection Wells
Section XVII-3311 - Permitting Process