New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 15 - OIL AND GAS
Part 17 - PITS, CLOSED-LOOP SYSTEMS, BELOW-GRADE TANKS AND SUMPS
Section 19.15.17.9 - PERMIT APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION

(1) Permanent pits. A registered professional engineer shall certify engineering, design and construction specifications as contained in the plan for permanent pits. The plan shall include:

(2) Temporary pits. The plan for design and construction of a temporary pit shall follow applicable liner manufacturers' requirements. The permit application also shall include operating and maintenance procedures, a closure plan and hydrogeologic data that provides sufficient information and detail on the site's topography, soils, geology, surface hydrology and ground water hydrology to enable the appropriate division district office to evaluate compliance with the siting criteria of 19.15.17.10 NMAC. In the absence of site-specific ground water data, the operator can provide a reasonable determination of probable ground water depth using data generated by models, cathodic well lithology, published information or other tools as approved by the appropriate division district office. The plan for a temporary pit may incorporate by reference a standard design for multiple temporary pits that the operator files with the application or has previously filed with the appropriate division district office. The operator may utilize, with approval by the appropriate division district office, standardized plans for pit construction, pit closure, and other plans which will remain approved until a subsequent plan is either required by the appropriate division district office or is submitted by the operator and approved by the appropriate division district office. A copy of the approved standardized plan shall be included in the division's electronic well file for each associated well.

(3) Below-grade tanks. The registration of a below-grade tank shall include operating and maintenance procedures, a closure plan and a hydrogeologic report that demonstrates compliance with the siting criteria of 19.15.17.10 NMAC. In the absence of site-specific ground water data, the operator can provide a reasonable determination of probable ground water depth using data generated by models, cathodic well lithology, published information or other tools as approved by the appropriate division district office. The registration of a below-grade tank may incorporate by reference a standard design for multiple below-grade tanks that the operator files with the application or has previously filed with the appropriate division district office. The operator may utilize, with approval by the appropriate division district office, standardized plans for below-grade tank construction, and other plans which will remain approved until a subsequent plan is either required by the appropriate division district office or is submitted by the operator and approved by the appropriate division district office. A copy of the approved standardized plan shall be included in the division's electronic well file for each associated well.

(4) Multi-well fluid management pits. The design and construction plan for a multi-well fluid management pit shall follow applicable liner manufacturers' requirements. The permit application also shall include operating and maintenance procedures, a list of wells with approved application for permit to drill associated with the pit, a closure plan and hydrogeologic data that provides sufficient information and detail on the site's topography, soils, geology, surface hydrology and ground water hydrology to enable the appropriate division district office to evaluate compliance with the siting criteria of 19.15.17.10 NMAC. In the absence of site-specific ground water data, the operator can provide a reasonable determination of probable ground water depth using data generated by models, cathodic well lithology, published information or other tools as approved by the appropriate division district office. The plan for a multi-well fluid management pit may incorporate by reference a standard design for multiple fluid management pits that the operator files with the application or has previously filed with the appropriate division district office. The operator may utilize, with approval by the appropriate division district office, standardized plans for pit construction, pit closure, and other plans which will remain approved until a subsequent plan is either required by the appropriate division district office or is submitted by the operator and approved by the appropriate division district office.

(1) Permanent pits: An operator shall file an application on form C-144, including required attachments, with the division's Santa Fe office to request approval to use or construct a permanent pit and shall provide a copy to the appropriate division district office.

(2) Temporary pits, and multi-well fluid management pits. An operator shall file an application on form C-144, including required attachments, with the appropriate division district office. If the operator plans to use a temporary pit, or multi-well fluid management pit, the operator shall provide the proposed pit location on form C-102.