WETLAND WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB), in collaboration with the Oklahoma Wetlands Technical Work Group, is developing wetland water quality standards (WQS) and defining a wetland for the first time. OKOGA was successful in inserting a provision that clarifies that constructed commercial pits used for the handling, storage, or disposal of sediments, soils, drilling fluids used in connection with drilling or operation of a well(s) are defined and regulated by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
FORCED POOLING MEETING
The next meeting on forced pooling will be held on Friday, October 17th, at 9:00 a.m., in Room 301, at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) in Oklahoma City. A summary of the September 26 meeting was emailed to Regulatory Practices Committee members. If you need a copy, please let us know.
TECHNICAL CONFERENCE NOI PIPELINE SAFETY
The OCC has begun its procedures on the Notice of Inquiry concerning the Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act (Pipeline Safety/HB 2533). The first Technical Conference (Implementation of a Complaint Process & Adequacy of Current Commission Enforcement Powers) will be October 8, 2014, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Room 301.
OIL FIELD WASTE
Journal Record: A landfill company can continue recycling oil-field waste, sending a valuable resource back into the drilling process. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved on Tuesday an order allowing Waste Corp. to recycle oil-based drilling mud at a Pauls Valley landfill until Oct. 31.
There was a bill this past session that dealt with oil field waste. SB 1418, by Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Ardmore, and Rep. Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore, was signed by the Governor on April 7. The act requires the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to promulgate rules regarding oil and gas operators disposing of any oil field waste materials, including drilling fluids and solids, in commercial solid waste disposal sites regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill establishes certain requirements for the rules.
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
We received comments from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation regarding USFWS’ policy on voluntary prelisting conservation actions. They were sent to the Committee on Environmental and Safety Affairs. If you would like a copy, please let us know.
MUDDY BOGGY CONSERVATION BANK EXPANSION
Additional habitat acreage has been added to the Oklahoma American Burying Beetle Muddy Boggy Conservation Bank. If you are interested in learning more about American Burying Beetle credits, please let us know. If there is sufficient interest, we will coordinate a meeting to discuss them.
OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED FEDERAL RAIL RULES
NewsOK: API is intent on making oil trains safer, CEO Jack Gerard said Tuesday, even though it opposes some safety rules proposed by regulators.
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