Regulatory Changes for Commercial E&P Waste Facilities in Louisiana

By

Wascom, Carroll D., and Snellgrove, Gary W.

State of Louisiana, Department of Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA

The Office of Conservation (Conservation) of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently promulgated rule changes regarding regulation of commercial exploration and production (E&P) waste treatment and disposal facilities in Louisiana.

The basis for regulatory changes began in 1997 and 1998 with implementation of a comprehensive E&P waste sampling and analytical testing program implemented statewide as a result of concerns voiced by residents living near a commercial E&P waste treatment and disposal facility in Grand Bois, Louisiana. Upon completion of the statewide testing program, sample results were then validated and statistically analyzed by Louisiana State University to characterized E&P waste received by Louisiana commercial facilities. Following the conclusion of E&P waste characterization, a comprehensive health risk analysis of existing commercial facility operations in Louisiana was finalized by a contract toxicologist and submitted to Conservation with health protective recommendations, thus establishing the impetus for promulgating regulatory changes.

As a result, the commercial facility regulations in LAC 43:XIX.Subpart 1, Chapter 5, were amended on November 20, 2001. This paper will discuss the major changes made in the permitting, construction, operation and monitoring requirements for the commercial offsite treatment and disposal of exploration and production waste.