Section 240.540  Drilling and Completion Pit Restoration

a)         Sediment, drilling fluid circulation and reserve pits, except sediment pits used as completion pits, shall be filled and leveled within 6 months after drilling ceases.  Drilling fluid wastes may be disposed of by on-site burial or surface application in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section at the site of drilling.  Saltwater or Oil Drilling Fluid wastes shall be removed from the site and disposed of in an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency permitted special waste landfill, injected in a Class II well, disposed of in a well during the plugging process or buried in one of the lined pits and the liner folded over and an additional liner material added to completely cover the drilling waste and buried at least 5 feet below the ground surface.

b)         If surface application is used for disposal of drilling fluid wastes (prohibited for Saltwater or Oil Based Drilling Fluids), the wastes shall be landspread, incorporated and stabilized to limit run off of storm water containing drilling fluid waste.  Discharge of drilling fluid waste into surface waters or water drainage ways is prohibited.

c)         Drilling pits used as completion pits in accordance with Section 240.530(c)(2) of this Subpart shall be filled and leveled within 6 months after completion activities cease.  Newly constructed completion or workover pits shall be filled and leveled within 90 days after completion or workover activities cease.  All completion or workover fluid wastes shall be removed from the pit and disposed of in a Class II Injection well (or in above ground tanks of containers pending disposal) prior to restoration.  Any remaining residue not removed can be disposed of through on-site burial.  Only residue from that particular well on which completion or workover activities were performed can be disposed of by on-site burial.

d)         All drilling, completion and workover pits shall be filled and leveled in a manner that allows the site to be returned to original use with no subsidence or leakage of fluids, and where applicable, with sufficient compaction to support farm machinery.

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 22314, effective December 14, 1998)