New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 14 - GEOTHERMAL POWER
Part 36 - NOTIFICATION OF FIRE, BREAKS, LEAKS, SPILLS AND BLOWOUTS
Section 19.14.36.8 - NOTIFICATION OF FIRE, BREAKS, LEAKS, SPILLS AND BLOWOUTS

Universal Citation: 19 NM Admin Code 19.14.36.8

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. The division shall be notified of any fire, break, leak, spill or blowout occurring at any geothermal drilling, producing, transporting, treating, disposal or utilization facility in the state of New Mexico by the person operating or controlling such facility.

B. "Facility", for the purpose of this rule, shall include any geothermal drilling, producing, injection or disposal well; any pipeline through which geothermal resources or the waste products thereof are gathered or transported; any tank or other storage unit into which geothermal products, waters or wastes are produced, received or stored; any treating plant in which geothermal resources are treated or processed; any electrical generating plant in which geothermal resources are utilized; and any drilling pit, slush pit or storage pit or pond associated with geothermal drilling, producing, treating or utilization processes in which hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon waste or residue, salt water, strong caustics or acids, or other deleterious chemicals or harmful substances are present.

C. Notification to the division of such fire, break, leak, spill or blowout shall be in accordance with the provisions set forth below:

(1) Well Blowouts. Notification of well blowouts and/or fires shall be "immediate notification" described below.

(2) "Major" breaks, spills or leaks. Notification of breaks, spills, or leaks of wellheads, pipelines, or tanks, or drilling pits, slush pits or storage pits or ponds, the result of which 50 barrels or more of liquids containing hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon wastes, salt water, strong caustics or strong acids or other deleterious substances reach a water course or enter a stream or lake, or in which noxious gases escape or any quantity of fluids are lost which may with reasonable probability endanger human health or result in substantial damage to property, shall be "immediate notification" described below.

(3) "Minor" breaks, spills or leaks. Notification of breaks, spills or leaks of wellheads, pipelines, or tanks, or drilling pits, slush pits or storage pits or ponds, the result of which 25 barrels or more but less than 50 barrels of liquids containing hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon wastes, salt water, strong caustics or strong acids or other deleterious substances are lost or in which noxious gases escape, but in which there is no danger of human health nor of substantial damage to property shall be "subsequent notice" described below.

(4) Fires. Notification of fires at geothermal installations in which there is reasonable probability of danger to human health or substantial damage to adjoining properties or substantial loss of geothermal resources shall be "immediate notice" described below. Notification of fires of lesser magnitude but of $500.00 or more of property damage or $500.00 or more geothermal resources loss shall be "subsequent notice" described below.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.