Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Natural Resources
Title R649 - Oil, Gas and Mining; Oil and Gas
Rule R649-3 - Drilling and Operating Practices
Section R649-3-16 - Reserve Pits and Other On-site Pits

1. Small onsite oil field pits including, but not limited to, reserve pits, emergency pits, workover and completion pits, storage pits, pipeline drip pits, and sumps shall be located and constructed in such a manner as to contain fluids and not cause pollution of waters and soils. They shall be located and constructed according to the division guidelines for onsite pits. See Ranking Criteria for Reserve and Onsite Pit Liner Requirements, on the Oil, Gas and Mining web page.

2. Reserve pit location and construction requirements including liner requirements will be discussed at the predrill site evaluation. Special stipulations concerning the reserve pit will be included as part of the division's approval to drill.

3. Following drilling and completion of the well the reserve pit shall be closed within one year, unless permission is granted by the division for a longer period.

4. Pit contents shall meet the Division's Cleanup Levels (guidance document for numeric clean-up levels) or background levels prior to burial.

5. The contents may require treatment to reduce mobility or toxicity in order to meet cleanup levels.

6. The alternative to meeting cleanup levels would be transporting of material to an appropriate disposal facility.