General DNR News

New regulations for the disposal of exploration and production waste into solution-mined salt domes will strengthen and expand current rules, state Conservation officials announced today. State officials will hold a public hearing on the issue on Monday,

New regulations for the disposal of exploration and production waste into solution-mined salt domes will strengthen and expand current rules, state Conservation officials announced today. State officials will hold a public hearing on the issue on Monday, January 27, 2003 at 10 a.m. in the LaBelle Room located at the LaSalle Office Building in downtown Baton Rouge.

The proposed salt cavern disposal rule will apply to commercial and non-commercial operations in Louisiana. Since 1998, the state Department of Natural Resources’s Office of Conservation has been working with a special committee charged with formulating safe and acceptable operations and rules for this type of waste disposal. Conservation’s Injection and Mining Director Carroll Wascom explained that the new and expanded regulations will provide another disposal option for exploration and production waste that has not been around in the past.

The rule-making committee’s proposal includes regulatory requirements for permit application and review, geological evaluations, and safety and design requirements. Operating standards, as well as how the well, cavern, and facility is monitored has also been established.

After the public comment period and once promulgated, amendments will be made to the November 2001 Exploration and Production Waste Disposal laws and the new regulations for salt cavern disposal will be added.

The public hearing will give interested parties a chance to submit data and comments. For a copy of the proposed regulations, contact DNR’s Office of Conservation, Carroll Wascom or Joe Ball at 225-342-5515.

Editors: For more information on this topic, please contact DNR’s Public Information Office at 225/342-8955.