| (a) It is the responsibility of the owner or operator to close
a Class V well which is to be permanently discontinued or abandoned under
standards set forth in this section unless the well must comply with §331.136
of this title (relating to Closure Standards for Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal
Wells, Large Capacity Septic Systems, Large Capacity Cesspools, Subsurface
Fluid Distribution Systems, and Drywells). The well must be closed in a manner
that complies with §331.5 of this title (relating to Prevention of Pollution)
and 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §144.12 ("prohibition of movement
of fluid into underground sources of drinking water," effective June 2, 1987
at 48 FR 20676). Any contaminated soil, gravel, sludge, liquids, or other
materials removed from or adjacent to the well must be managed in accordance
with Chapter 350 of this title (relating to Texas Risk Reduction Program),
and all other applicable federal, state, and local regulations and requirements.
(b) Closure shall be accomplished by removing all of the removable
casing and the entire well shall be pressure filled via a tremie pipe with
cement from bottom to the land surface.
(c) As an alternative to the procedure in subsection (b) of
this section, if a Class V well is not completed through zones containing
undesirable groundwater, water that is injurious to human health and the environment
or water that can cause pollution to land or other waters, the well may be
filled with fine sand, clay, or heavy mud followed by a cement plug extending
from land surface to a depth of not less than ten feet below the land surface.
(d) As an alternative to the procedure in subsection (b) of
this section, if a Class V well is completed through zones containing undesirable
groundwater, water that is injurious to human health and the environment or
water that can cause pollution to land or other waters, either the zone(s)
containing undesirable groundwater or the fresh groundwater zone(s) shall
be isolated with cement plugs and the remainder of the wellbore filled with
bentonite grout (9.1 pounds per gallon mud or more) followed by a cement plug
extending from land surface to a depth of not less than ten feet below the
land surface.
(e) It is the responsibility of the owner or operator to ensure
that temporary injection points are pressure grouted from the bottom of the
well to the land surface, and the injection point is sealed to prevent the
migration of fluids into underground sources of drinking water.
(f) It is the responsibility of the owner or operator to close
improved sinkholes in a manner that prohibits the movement of contaminated
fluids into underground sources of drinking water, in compliance with §331.5
of this title, and 40 CFR §144.12 (as amended through June 2, 1987 at
48 FR 20676); and to demonstrate that any fluids released through the closed
well will meet the primary maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for drinking
water contained in 40 CFR Part 141, and other appropriate health-based standards
at the point of injection.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §331.133 adopted to be effective May 13, 1986, 11 TexReg 1988; amended to be effective June 25, 2000, 25 TexReg 5908; amended to be effective July 12, 2001, 26 TexReg 5019 |
