Oilfield Restoration Commission

FOSTER ANNOUNCES NEW OILFIELD WASTE TESTING RULES; PUBLIC REVIEW AND INPUT NEXT STEP

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. M.J. "Mike" Foster Jr. announced today that new Department of Natural Resources' oilfield waste testing rules are ready for public review and input. The new rules require the testing of exploration and production (E&P) waste prior to shipment and further analysis and verification testing upon arrival at the commercial facility.

The implementation of the testing program is occurring in two phases. Phase-one of the program, which has been completed, consisted of a statewide sampling and testing program of all types of oil field waste from 89 sites of generation throughout Louisiana, including offshore.

Phase-two of the program, the Emergency Rule, will require oil field waste to be tested both for toxicity and for E&P source verification. After the Emergency Rule is implemented, the Office of Conservation will announce new permanent regulations which will recognize and encourage new and innovative ways to properly manage the waste.

The Department of Natural Resources developed the new rules, with the assistance of the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Environmental Quality. The rules will be effective for a period of 120 days, or until the adoption of the final version of the amendment (Statewide Order No. 29-B), whichever comes first. In order to allow adequate time for companies to implement and comply with the Emergency Rule, such as obtaining testing equipment and hiring qualified personnel, enforcement of the Emergency Rule will commence 45-days after the rules become effective.

A public hearing on the Emergency Rule will be held Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. in the Conservation Hearing Room at the State Land and Natural Resources Building, 625 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge.

Office of Conservation Commissioner Warren A. Fleet said that public concern over the possible toxicity of oil field waste and the possible health effects on the public and the environment warranted a review of E&P waste generation, transportation and disposal regulations in Louisiana.

A copy of the draft Emergency Rule is available for review by contacting Carroll Wascom, Office of Conservation, Injection and Mining Division, Room 257, State Land and Natural Resources Building, Baton Rouge, or by calling Ruth Bullington at 504-342-9179.

EDITOR'S NOTE: DNR has also made a copy of the draft Emergency Rule available on its Web site in Adobe Acrobat 3.0 (PDF) format.