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West
Virginia Regulations for Drill Waste Pits
West
Virginia's regulations appear in three platforms: Code of
State Regulations, Erosion and Sedimentation Control Field
Manual and General Water Pollution Control Permit. We've taken
the relevant parts from each platform and present them here.
Code
of State Regulations (35 CSR 4.16.4)
16.4. Pits - All field constructed pits which are used to
contain wastewater shall meet the following minimum requirements:
16.4.a.
Any pit shall be constructed and maintained so as to prevent
seepage, leakage or overflows, and to maintain its integrity.
16.4.b.
Provisions shall be made for diverting surface water from
the pits.
16.4.c.
When an operator is unable to maintain adequate freeboard
to prevent overflow from any pit, the district inspector shall
be notified by the well operator and an additional pit (or
alternative overflow facility) shall be constructed under
the supervision of the chief, which shall also meet the requirements
specified in this subsection (16.4).
16.4.d.
If existing soil is not suitable to prevent seepage or leakage,
other materials which are impervious shall be used as a liner
for a pit. Any such liner shall be installed in such a manner
as to protect the structural integrity of both pit and liner.
16.4.e.
Dikes associated with pits shall be constructed of compacted
material and maintained with a slope that will preserve the
structural integrity of such dike.
16.4.f.
Any unlined dike constructed of existing soil shall be free
of trees and other organic matter, large rocks, or any other
material which could be reasonably expected to adversely affect
the structural integrity of such dike.
16.4.g.
Reclamation of the pits shall not cause an overflow and/or
discharge of materials to waters of the state.
16.4.h.
All drilling pits and alternative overflow prevention facilities
shall be constructed, maintained, and reclaimed so as not
to be left in such condition as to constitute a hazard or
to prevent use of the surface for agricultural purposes after
the expiration of the six (6) month or extended period for
reclamation prescribed by W. Va. Code '22-6-30.
Erosion
and Sedimentation Control Field Manual
II.B.2. Pit Construction
a.
Site Selection: The pit should be constructed in an area with
adequate room, so it can handle the projected drilling &
frac fluids, plus allowing for adequate freeboard during heavy
rainfall. Avoid excessive steep areas, wet seepage areas,
swamps, and excessive rocky areas, when possible.
b.
The pit shall be constructed and maintained so as to prevent
seepage, leakage, and overflows.
c.
Pits should be constructed blow ground level, when possible.
Any aboveground pit walls, as in the case with pits constructed
in the lower slope areas of the wellsite, shall be compacted,
with a side slope being maintained that will preserve the
structural integrity.
d.
Avoid placing any brush, trees, tree limbs, roots, or large
rocks in the pit walls.
e.
Surface water must be diverted from the pit.
f.
If the existing soil is not suitable for the pit to be "impervious",
suitable soil may be brought in or other impervious materials
should be used, such as:
(1) Gel & pit sealant
(2) Plastic pit liners (hay or straw bedding may be needed)
(3) Clay
g.
Pits constructed on location, should be constructed in solid
ground, preferably on the cut or highwall side, not in the
fill area. Adequate room should be allowed between the base
of any highwalls and the pit, for the construction of a surface
water drainage ditch.
(Figure
II-12 Air Pit Construction and Figure II-13 Mud Pit Construction
have not been reproduced here. Figure II-13 seems to show
2 feet freeboard.)
III.A.
Wellsite Reclamation
1.
Pit water treatment & disposal (as per "General Water
Pollution Control Permit")
2.
Pit backfilling: Filling with dirt and recontouring. No brush,
trees, tree tops, or stumps are to be buried in the pits.
General
Water Pollution Control Permit
G. Other Requirements
1. The discharge of treated and untreated pit wastewater or
sludge, caused by any reason such as, but not necessarily
limited to, leaking, overflowing or an unstable, breached
or unreclaimed pit, into waters of the State is prohibited
except as allowed by this permit.
2.
A temporary fence or suitable barrier shall be constructed
surrounding the pit(s), as needed, to prevent vandalism or
inadvertent livestock intrusion.
10.
Minimum requirements for field constructed pits which are
used to contain wastewater include:
(a)
Constructed and maintained to prevent seepage, leakage or
overflows and to maintain its integrity;
(b)
Construction or provisions for diverting surface water from
the pits;
(c)
Approval from district inspector for construction of an additional
pit (or alternative overflow facility) meeting the requirements
specified herein in order to attain adequate freeboard.
(d)
Constructed or lined such that the pit is impervious. Liners
shall be installed in such a manner as to protect the structural
integrity of both pit and liner.
(e)
Constructed dikes shall be of compacted material and maintained
with a slope that will preserve the structural integrity of
the dike.
(f)
Be free of trees and other organic matter, large rocks, or
any other material which could be reasonably expected to adversely
affect the structural integrity of the dike.
(g)
Reclamation so as not to cause an overflow and/or discharge
of materials to the waters of the State.
(h)
Prepare site-specific plans or generic plans for pit construction
as may be required by the Chief on a company-by-company or
site-by-site basis as a special condition of this permit.
15.
If the provisions of Section G.7-10 of this permit are being
adhered to at the individual site, the storm water runoff
from the disturbed site may be directed into the pit.
[Note:
In the 1980s when the General Water Pollution Control Permit
was created there was a broad awareness of the scope and scale
of pit failures. The Office of Water determined that pit failures
or breaches occurred at about a third of all drill sites and
for this reason the General Water Pollution Control Permit
includes material about pits and construction.]
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