(a) The facility operator shall provide written notification to the executive director of the location of any and all existing or abandoned water wells situated within the facility upon discovery during the course of facility development. The facility operator shall, within 30 days of such a discovery, provide the executive director with such notification and written certification that such wells have been capped, plugged, and closed in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations of the commission or other state agency. Any water well used for supply at the facility may remain in use as long as it is located outside the waste footprint, it is not impacted by landfill operations, it can be demonstrated that well design and installation will prevent any cross-contamination from the waste management unit to the water well production zone and between any water bearing zones, and an approved sampling plan to include frequency and parameters is in place. The executive director shall approve any well used to supply water at the facility that is located within the permit boundary.
(b) The facility operator shall provide written notification to the executive director of the location of any and all existing or abandoned on-site crude oil or natural gas wells, or other wells associated with mineral recovery that are under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas. The facility owner or operator shall provide the executive director with written notification of the location of any such well within 30 days after discovery during the course of facility development. Within 30 days after plugging of any such well, the facility operator shall provide the executive director with written certification that these wells have been properly capped, plugged, and closed in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations of the Railroad Commission of Texas. Producing crude oil or natural gas wells that do not affect or hamper landfill operations may be operated within the facility boundary, if identified in the permit for the facility or in a written notification to the executive director.
(c) Any water or other type of wells under the jurisdiction of the commission must be plugged in accordance with all applicable state requirements or additional requirements imposed by the executive director. A copy of the well plugging report required to be submitted to the appropriate state agency must also be submitted to the executive director within 30 days after the well has been plugged.
(d) The facility operator or owner shall submit for executive director approval a permit modification application identifying any proposed changes to the liner installation plan as a result of any well abandonment.
Source Note: The provisions of this §330.161 adopted to be effective March 27, 2006, 31 TexReg 2502