ReclamationRules

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1000 Series

ReclamationRules

Rule1001.Introduction Rule1002.SitePreparationandStabilization Rule1003.InterimReclamation Rule1004.FinalReclamation

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1000 Series

ReclamationRegulationsIntroduction

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1001

1001.c. SurfaceOwnerWaiverof1000 SeriesRules

y Purpose y 1001.c.wasamendedtoprovidethatcompliancewith rules1002.e.(1)&(4),1002.f.and1004.c.(4)&(5)willbe requiredevenifanagreementwiththesurfaceowner andtheoperatorexistsregardingtopsoilprotectionand reclamationstandardsorobjectives.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1001

1001.c.SurfaceOwnerWaiverof1000 SeriesRules Waiverdoesnotapplyto FollowingRules

y 1002.e.(1) dustcontrolanderosioncontrol y 1002.e.(4) constructionanduseofaccessroads y 1002.f.

stormwatermanagement y 1004.c.(4) finalreclamationnotice y 1004.c.(5) inspectionoffinalreclamation

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1001

SitePreparationandStabilization

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002 SitePreparationandStabilization
y Thepurposeoftheamendmentstotheserulesistoensure

propersitepreparationandstabilization. y 1002.a.e.changesprimarilypertaintosoilremovaland segregation. y 1002.f.wasaddedtoincluderequirementsfordeveloping andimplementingstormwatermanagementplansformost ongoingoperationsofoilandgasproductionfacilities.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

AddedDefinitionsfor1000SeriesRule
y MINIMIZEEROSIONshallmeanimplementingbest

managementpracticesthatareselectedbasedonsite specificconditionsandmaintainedtoreduceerosion. Representativeerosioncontrolpracticesinclude,but arenotlimitedto,revegetationofdisturbedareas, mulching,berms,diversiondikes,surfaceroughening, slopedrains,checkdams,andothercomparable measures.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

AddedDefinitionsfor1000Series Rules(Contd)
y BESTMANAGEMENTPRACTICES(BMPs)arepractices

thataredesignedtopreventorreduceimpactscausedby oilandgasoperationstoair,water,soil,orbiological resources,andtominimizeadverseimpactstopublic health,safetyandwelfare,includingtheenvironmentand wildliferesources. y STORMWATERRUNOFFshallmeanrainorsnowmeltthat flowsoverlandanddoesnotpercolateintosoiland includesstormwaterthatflowsontoandoffofanoiland gaslocationorfacility.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1002

AddedDefinitionsfor1000Series Rules(Contd)
y TIER1OILANDGASLOCATIONshallmeananoilandgas

locationwheretheslopeislessthanfivepercent(5%),the soilhaslowerosionpotential,vegetativecoverorpermanent erosionresistancecoverisgreaterthanseventyfivepercent (75%),thedistancefromaperennialstreamorClassified WaterSupplySegmentisgreaterthanfivehundred(500) feet,andtheoilandgaslocationsizeislessthanone(1)acre, measuredbytheamountofsurfacedisturbanceatthetime oftheterminationofaconstructionstormwaterpermit issuedbytheColoradoDepartmentofPublicHealthand Environment.
Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1002

1002.c. ProtectionofSoils
y BestManagementPracticestopreventweed

establishment andmaintainsoilmicrobialactivity shallbeimplementedinstockpiledsoils.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.d. DrillPadLocation
y Ifnotavoidable,deepverticalcutsandsteeplongfill

slopesshallbeconstructedtotheleastpercentslope practical.Wherefeasibleoperatorsshalluse directionaldrillingtoreducecumulativeimpactsand adverseimpactsonwildliferesources.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.e. SurfaceDisturbance Minimization

y Inordertominimizelanddisturbancesandfacilitatefuture

reclamation,wellsites,productionfacilities,gathering pipelines,andaccessroadsshallbelocated,adequately sized,constructedandmaintainedsoastocontroldust andminimizeerosion,alterationofnaturalfeaturesand removalofsurfacematerials,anddegradationdueto contamination.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.f.(1)(2)(3) Stormwater Management

y 1002.f.(1)Applicability y 1002.f.(2)ActiveConstructionPhase y 1002.f.(3)OperationsPhase

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.f.(1) StormwaterManagement
y 1002.f.(1)ImplementandmaintainBMPsatalloil

andgaslocationstocontrolstormwaterrunoffin mannerthatminimizeserosion,minimizes transportofsedimentandothercontaminants offsite,andalsominimizessitedegradation.

y Priortoterminationofconstructionstormwater

permitdevelopPostConstructionStormwater Program.
Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1002

1002.F.(2) StormwaterManagement
y 1002.f.(2)ActiveConstructionPhase
y Oilandgasoperatorsshallimplementand maintainBMPsto:
y y y

Controlstormwaterrunofftominimizeserosion transportofsedimentoffsiteandsitedegradation MaintainBMPsuntilfacilityisabandonedand finalreclamationisachieved SelectBMPsonsitespecificconditions.

Rule 1002

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

04.02.2008

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1002.f.(2).a. CoveringMaterials

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.f.(2)A. CoveringMaterials
Covermaterialtominimizecontactofprecipitation andstormwaterrunoffwith: materials wastes equipment

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.f.(2)B. MaterialHandlingandSpill Prevention

Implementproceduresandpracticesinmaterials handlingtominimizepotentialfordischarges causingsurfacepollutionofsurfacewaters Secondarycontainment

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1002.f.(2)C. ErosionControls
Minimizeerosionfromunpavedareas wellpads unpavedroadsurfacesandassociatedculverts cut/fillslopes streamcrossings

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.f.(2)D. SelfInspection,Maintenance andGoodHousekeepingProcedures

Conductselfinspection,maintenanceandgood housekeepingproceduresandscheduletofacilitate identificationofproblemsthatcouldcause breakdownsorfailuresofBMPs Maintainclean,orderlyoperationsandfacilities, maintenancescheduleandguidanceforwaste disposalpractices Inspectionsandmaintenanceschedulesrelativeto stormwaterrunoffmusttakeintoaccountseasonal factorssuchaswintersnowcoverandspringrunoff
Rule 1002

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1002.f.(2)E. SpillResponseProcedures
Equipmentforspillcleanupshallbereadily available Stafftrainedinspillcleanupprocedures SpillPrevention,ControlandCountermeasures plansincorporatedbyreferencemustbe identifiedinthePostConstructionStormwater ManagementProgram

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.f.(2)F. VehicleTrackingandControl Procedures

Controlsedimentdischargesfromwellpads,access roads,andotherunpavedsurfaces. Proceduresinclude: paddesignandmaintenance limittrafficbycontrollingaccess streetsweepingorscraping trackingpads washracks
Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1002

InactivatingStormwaterPermits
CDPHEhasdevelopedaprocessbywhich constructionstormwaterpermitscanbeinactivated
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/PermitsUnit/ stormwater/SWFormsother/SWConInact.pdf

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

InActivation Notice

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1002

1002.f.(3) PostConstructionStormwater Program

OperatorsshalldevelopaPostConstructionStormwater Programnolaterthanthetimeofterminationof constructionphasepermitsissuedbyCDPHE.
Tier1locationsexceptions PostConstructionStormwaterProgram goodfaitheffortstoselectandimplementBMPs mustaddresspotentialsourcesofpollutionthatmight reasonablybeexpectedtoaffectthequalityofdischargesfromthe ongoingoperations
Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1002

1002.f.(3)A. PostConstruction StormwaterProgram

PollutantsourcesthatmustbeaddressedbyBMPsifpresent chemicaltransportincludingloadingandunloading vehicle/equipmentfueling outdoorstorageincludingthoseforchemicalandadditives producedwateranddrillingfluidstorage outdoorprocessingactivitiesandmachinery significantdustorparticulategeneratingprocesses erosionandvehicletrackingfromwellpads,roadsurfacesandpipelines wastedisposalpractices leaksandspills grounddisturbingmaintenanceactivities
Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1002

1002.f.(3)B. PostConstruction StormwaterProgram

PostConstructionStormwaterProgramRequirements:
Developed,supervised,documentedandmaintainedby qualifiedpersons Employeesandsubcontractorsshallbetrainedtomakethem awareofBMPsimplementedandmaintainedatsitesand proceduresforreportingneededmaintenance DocumentationofselectedBMPs,toensuretheirproper implementation,theirproperoperationandneeded maintenance
Rule 1002

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1002.f.(3)C. PostConstruction StormwaterProgram

PostConstructionStormwaterProgramRequirements Facilityspecificmaps Installationspecifications Implementationcriteria

Neededifgeneraloperatingproceduresanddescriptions arenotadequatetoclearlydescribethe implementationandoperationofBMPs

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1002

InterimReclamation

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1003

1003 InterimReclamation
y

y y y y

General. Interimreclamationofareasnolongerinuse. Drillingpitclosure. Restorationandrevegetation. Weedcontrol.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1003

1003.a General
y RuleAmendments y Deletedlanguagethatpreviouslyallowedmaterialtobe burnedorburiedonsiteundercertaincircumstances. y Addedastatementthatallwellsitesandsurface productionfacilitiesshallbemaintainedinaccordance withRule603.j. y Rule603.j.requiresthatwellsandsurfaceproduction facilitiesbekeptfreeofweeds,trashandjunk. Locationsmustalsobekeptfreeofequipment, vehiclesandsuppliesnotrequiredforuseonthelease.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1003

1003.b. Interimreclamationofareas nolongerinuse.

y RuleAmendments y Providedanadditionalexceptiontotherequirement thatalldisturbedareasbereclaimedasearlyandas nearlyaspracticabletotheiroriginalcondition.
y

Exceptwhensubsequentdrillingoperationsaretobe commencedwithintwelvemonths.
Addedtothestatementthatreclamationrestoreareastotheir originalconditionortheirfinallanduseasdesignatedbythe surfaceowner.
Rule 1003

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1003.b. Interimreclamationofareas nolongerinuse(Contd)

y Changedthetimeframeforinterimreclamationonnon

croplandfrom12monthsto6months.
y Addedtothestatementthatreclamationrestoreareasto

theiroriginalconditionortheirfinallanduseasdesignated bythesurfaceowner.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1003

1003.d. DrillingPitClosure
y Rule1003.d.(1)Drillingpitclosureoncroplandand

within100yearfloodplain.
y Amendedtoaddarequirementthatoperatorsensure

thatsoilsindrillingpitsmeetthestandardssetforthin Table9101.
y Addedrequirementthatdrillingpitsbereclaimedno

laterthan3monthsafterdrillingandcompletion activitiesconclude.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1003

1003.d. DrillingPitClosure(Contd)
y Rule1003.d.(2)Drillingpitclosureonnoncropland. y Alsoaddedtherequirementthatoperatorsensurethat soilsindrillingpitsmeetthestandardssetforthinTable 9101. y Addedtherequirementthatdrillingpitsonnoncrop landbereclaimednolaterthan6monthsafterdrilling andcompletionactivitiesconclude.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1003

1003.e.RestorationandRevegetation.
y Amendedtoclarifythatdisturbedareasmustbe

reseededinthefirstfavorableseasonfollowingrig demobilization. y Amendedtoaddaperformancestandardforinterim reclamationasfollows:

y Interimreclamationisconsideredcompletewhenalldisturbed

areashavebeeneitherbuilton,compacted,covered,paved,or otherwisestabilizedtotheextentpracticable;orauniform vegetativecoverhasbeenestablishedthatreflectspredisturbance orreferenceareaforbs,shrubs,andgrasseswithtotalplantcoverof atleast80% excludingnoxiousweeds. y Reseedingaloneisnotsufficient.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1003

1003.e.(3)Interimreclamation completionnotice,Form4.
y NewrequirementforoperatorstosubmitaForm4

wheninterimreclamationiscompletewiththe followinginformation:
y Descriptionoftheinterimreclamationprocedures. y Anyassociatedmitigationmeasuresperformed. y Anychangestothelandownersdesignatedfinallanduse. y Aminimumof4photographstakenduringthegrowingseasonfacingeach

cardinaldirectiontodocumentreclamationsuccess. y Onephotographwhichdocumentsthetotalcoverofliveperennial vegetationofadjacentornearbyundisturbedlandorthereferencearea. y Eachphotographshallbeidentifiedbydatetaken,wellname,GPSlocation anddirectionofview.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1003

1003.f.Weedcontrol
y Amendedrulecontainsnewrequirementsforweed

controlasfollows:
y Duringdrilling,production,andreclamationoperations,all

y y

y y

disturbedareasshallbekeptasfreeofallundesirableplantspecies designatedtobenoxiousweeds aspracticable. Weedcontrolmeasuresshallbeconductedincompliancewiththe ColoradoNoxiousWeedAct. COGCCrecommendsthattheoperatorconsultwiththelocalweed controlagencyorotherweedcontrolauthoritieswhenweed infestationsoccur. Theoperatormustmonitoraffectedandreclaimedlandsfor noxiousweedinfestations. TheDirectormayrequireaweedcontrolplan.
Rule 1003

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

FinalReclamation

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1004

1004 FinalReclamation
a. b.

c.
d. e.

Wellsitesandassociatedproductionfacilities. Productionandspecialpurposepitclosure. Thresholdforreleaseoffinancialassurance. Disturbedareas. WeedControl.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1004
46

1004.a.Wellsitesandassociated productionfacilities

1. PlugandAbandonWell 2. Backfill:allpits,mouse/ratholesandcellars. 3. Within3monthsremove:

y y y y y

all debris, allsurfaceequipmentand abandonedgatheringandflowlinerisers. Close,gradeandrecontour. Removeculvertsandorotherobstructionsthatwere partoftheaccessroad(s).

Rule 1004.a
47

4. Accessroads

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1004.a.Wellsitesandassociated productionfacilities
5. Reclaimwelllocations,accessroadsand

associatedfacilities

Compactionalleviation. Restorationandrevegetate. Removeallequipment,suppliesandotherwaste materials. y Burningandorburialmustbeperformedin accordancewithapplicablelocal,stateorfederalwaste disposalregulationsandmusthavePriorWritten ConsentOfSurfaceOwner.

y y y

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1004.a
48

1004.a.Wellsitesandassociated productionfacilities
6. Allreclamationworkshallbecompletedwithin:
y y y
y y

3monthsoncropland. twelve(12)monthsonnoncroplandafterP&A. Directormaygrantanextension:

whereunusualcircumstancesareencounteredbut everyreasonableeffortshallbemadetocomplete reclamationbeforethenextgrowingseason.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1004.a
49

1004.b.ProductionandSpecialPurpose PitClosure
1. E&PWastes:
y y

RemoveortreatE&Pwasteremaininginaproductionor specialpurposepitbeforeclosureforfinalreclamation. Complywith900SeriesRulesincludingTable9101 standards. Backfillpitstoreturnsoilstotheiroriginalrelativepositions (croplandandnoncropland). Subsidenceoverclosedpit:additionaltopsoilshallbe addedtothedepressionandthelandshallbereleveledas closetoitsoriginalcontouraspracticable.

Rule 1004.b
50

2. After E&Pwasteisremovedortreated:
y y

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1004.c.ThresholdforReleaseofFinancial Assurance
Reclamationcompletewhen:
1.

Cropland:
y y

Reclamationper1003and1004hasbeenperformedand, ObservationsbytheDirectorovertwogrowingseasonshas indicatednosignificantunrestoredsubsidence. Reclamationper1003and1004hasbeenperformed. Disturbedareashaveeitherbeenbuilton,compacted,covered, paved,orotherwisestabilizedinsuchawayastominimize erosion(totheextentpracticable)or

2. Noncropland
y y

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1004.c
51

1004.c.ThresholdforReleaseofFinancial Assurance
3. Uniformvegetativecoverhasbeenestablishedthat: y Reflectspredisturbanceorreferenceareaforbs, shrubs,andgrasses. y Totalplantcoverofatleast80%predisturbance referencearealevels,excludingnoxiousweeds. y DeterminedthroughvisualappraisalbyDirector. y Directorshallconsiderthetotalcoverofliveperennial vegetationofadjacentornearbyundisturbedlands havingsimilarsoils,slopeandaspectnotincluding treecanopycover.
Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Rule 1004.c
52

1004.c.ThresholdforReleaseofFinancial Assurance
4. Flowlineinstallationsshallbedeemedadequately

reclaimedwhenthedisturbedareaisreasonablecapable ofsupportingthepredisturbancelanduse. 5. SubmitSundryNoticeForm4

y y y

Describesthefinalreclamationprocedures, anychanges(ifapplicable)inthelandownersdesignatedfinal land useand anymitigationmeasuresassociatedwiththefinalreclamation performedbytheoperator. inspectionbyCOGCChasbeencompleted, therearenocomplianceissuesrelatingtocommissionrules, regulations,orders,permitconditionsortheact.

Rule 1004.c
53

6. Finalreclamation
y y

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1004.d.DisturbedAreas(newrule)
Finalreclamationofdisturbedareasshallbeconsidered completewhen:
1. 2. 3.

4. 5.

Allactivitiesthatdisturbtheground(contouring,backfilling etc.)havebeencompleted. Disturbedareashaveeitherbeenbuiltupon,compactedcovered pavedorotherwisestabilizedinsuchawayastominimize erosion;or Auniformvegetativecoverhasbeenestablishedthatreflects predisturbanceorreferenceareaforbs,shrubs,grasseswithtotal percentplantcoverofatleast80percentofpredisturbanceor referencearealevels,excludingnoxiousweeds;or Equivalentpermanent,physicalerosionreductionmethodshave beenemployed. Reseedingaloneisnotsufficient.
Rule 1004.d
54

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

1004.e.WeedControl(newrule)
1. 2. 3.

4. 5.

Keepreclaimedareasfree(aspracticable)ofundesirable plantspeciesdesignatedtobenoxiousweeds. Conductweedcontrolmeasures(ColoradoNoxious WeedAct,andthecurrentrules). Consultwithlocalweedcontrolagencytorotherweed controlauthoritywhenweedinfestationoccurs (recommended). Monitoraffectedandreclaimedlandsfornoxiousweed infestations. Directormayrequireaweedcontrolplan.

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission

Rule 1004.e
55