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Texas Landowners Advocate for Major Changes to Oilfield Waste Disposal Procedures
September 23, 2024
2 Min Read
Don Mammoser / Alamy Stock Photo
SAN ANTONIO- Don't Waste Texas and Texas landowners and landowner organizations are urging the Railroad Commission of Texas to improve the outdated regulations (known as "Statewide Rule 8") for oilfield waste disposal. As the state's robust oil and gas industry has grown, so have the risks posed by current disposal methods, which threaten the health and safety of communities, livestock, wildlife and groundwater resources.
Currently, oil and gas operators can legally dispose of hazardous materials in open reserve pits on private property without the landowner's consent, putting both the environment and property rights at risk. Reserve pits handle 70-80% of all drilling waste in Texas but lack even the most basic restrictions.
Dumping used motor oil of any quantity on the ground in Texas is a felony offense, punishable by up to two years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine. And yet, reserve pits holding thousands of barrels of toxic chemicals, often multiple acres in size, are legal and unregulated.
Reserve pits are often unlined and unmonitored. They are filled with toxic drilling fluids, oil and produced water, diesel, mineral oil, and various chemicals like barium sulfate, benzene and lignosulfonates. Reserve pits also contain high chloride levels, inhibiting grass and vegetation regrowth. These pits are left open for up to a year or longer after drilling operations end, allowing hazardous chemicals to seep into the ground and volatize into the atmosphere and the air we breathe.
Texas has not updated its oilfield waste disposal rules in over 40 years, despite massive advancements in drilling technology and a drastic increase in the amount of waste generated by the industry.
Don't Waste Texas believes changes to Statewide Rule 8 should include:
Requiring Landowner Consent: Ensure landowners are notified in advance and given the opportunity to grant permission or consent before any waste disposal occurs on their property to protect their rights and prevent unexpected environmental damage.
Enhancing Groundwater Protection: Mandate that reserve pits be double lined and equipped with leak detection and groundwater monitoring systems, similar to the standards used for commercial operations, to prevent toxic chemicals from contaminating our drinking water.
Implementing Better Waste Management Practices: Adopt safer practices, such as those already required by other states, to minimize the environmental risks associated with oilfield waste disposal and protect our land and water.
The Railroad Commission is currently accepting public comments on the proposed changes to Statewide Rule 8. The comment period began on August 15 and will close on October 15, 2024. To learn more and to take action, visit DontWasteTexas.org.
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