Current through all regulations passed and filed through December 16, 2024
(A) The owner or operator of a class I
hazardous waste injection well shall prepare, maintain, and comply with a plan
for closure of the well that meets the requirements of this rule, is in
compliance with rule
3745-34-09 of the Administrative
Code and is acceptable to the director. The owner or operator shall implement
the approved closure plan upon termination of a permit or the cessation of
injection activities:
(1) The owner or
operator of a class I hazardous waste injection well shall submit the plan as a
part of the permit application and, upon approval by the director, such plan
shall be a condition of any permit issued.
(2) The owner or operator of a class I
hazardous waste injection well shall submit any proposed significant revision
to the method of closure reflected in the closure plan for approval by the
director no later than the date on which notice of closure is required to be
submitted to the director under this rule.
(3) The closure plan shall assure continuing
financial responsibility as required by rule
3745-34-09 of the Administrative
Code.
(4) The closure plan shall
include the following information:
(a) The
type and number of plugs to be used.
(b) The placement of each plug including the
elevation of the top and bottom of each plug.
(c) The type, grade, and quantity of material
to be used in plugging.
(d) The method of placement of the
plugs.
(e) Any
proposed test or measure to be made.
(f) The amount, size, and location (by depth)
of casing and any other materials to be left in the well.
(g) The method and location where casing is
to be parted, if applicable.
(h) The
procedure to be used to meet the requirements of this rule.
(i) The estimated cost of closure.
(j) Any proposed test or measure to be
made.
(5) An owner or
operator of a class I hazardous waste injection well who ceases injection
temporarily, may keep the well open provided the owner or
operator:
(a) Has received prior
authorization from the director.
(b) Has
submitted a plan to the director, for approval, that the owner or operator will
follow to ensure that the well will not endanger USDWS during the period of
temporary disuse. These actions and procedures shall include compliance with
the technical requirements applicable to active injection wells unless waived
by the director.
(6) The
owner or operator of a class I hazardous waste injection well that has ceased
operations for more than two years shall notify the director thirty days prior
to resuming operation of the well.
(B) The owner or operator of a class I
hazardous waste injection well shall notify the director at least sixty days
before closure of a well. At the discretion of the director, a shorter notice
period may be allowed.
(C) Within
sixty days after closure or at the time of the next quarterly report (whichever
is sooner) the owner or operator of a class I injection well shall submit a
closure report to the director. If the quarterly report is due less than
fifteen days after completion of closure, then the report shall be submitted
within sixty days after closure. The report shall be certified as accurate by
the owner or operator and by the person who performed the closure operation (if
other than the owner or operator). Such report shall consist of either:
(1) A statement that the well as closed in
accordance with the closure plan previously submitted and approved by the
director.
(2)
Where actual closure differed from the plan previously submitted, a written
statement specifying the differences between the previous plan and the actual
closure.
(D) Standards
for well closure.
(1) Prior to closing a class
I hazardous waste injection well, the owner or operator shall observe and
record the pressure decay for a time specified by the director. The director
shall determine whether the injection activity has conformed with predicted
values by analysis of the pressure decay and the transient pressure
observations conducted pursuant to rule
3745-34-57 of the Administrative
Code.
(2) Prior to well closure,
the owner or operator of a class I hazardous waste injection well shall conduct
appropriate mechanical integrity testing to ensure the integrity of that
portion of the long string casing and cement that will be left in the ground
after closure. Testing methods may include:
(a) Pressure tests with liquid or gas.
(b) Radioactive tracer surveys.
(c) Noise, temperature, pipe evaluation, or
cement bond logs.
(d) Any
other test required by the director.
(3) Prior to well closure, the well shall be
flushed with a buffer fluid.
(4)
Upon closure, a class I
well shall be plugged with cement in a manner that will not allow the movement
of fluids into or between USDWs.
(5) Placement of the cement plugs shall be
accomplished by one of the following:
(b) The
dump bailer method.
(d) An
alternate method, approved by the director, that will reliably provide a
comparable level of protection.
(6) Each plug used shall be appropriately
tagged and tested for seal and stability before closure is completed.
(7) The well to be closed shall be in a state
of static equilibrium with the mud weight equalized top to bottom, either by
circulating the mud in the well at least once or by a comparable method
approved by the director, prior to the placement of one or more cement
plugs.