| General Housekeeping | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | • Vehicular traffic will be minimized as much as possible to reduce nuisance dust and prevent soil erosion.
• Vehicles will be maintained in good working condition to avoid excess emissions and safety concerns.
• Any trash generated during the project will be disposed of properly at a commercial disposal facility.
• Any chemicals used will be kept to a minimum.
• Any spills will be cleaned up immediately in accordance with established company procedures.
• All materials will be stored in a neat and orderly manner in their appropriate containers.
• Operator will follow manufacturers’ recommendations and company policies for proper use and disposal of products.
• Operator will properly characterize and dispose of all waste (i.e. the specific landfill/waste disposal location allows for acceptance of the waste stream). |
| Wildlife | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | • Operator will inform and educate all employees and contractors on wildlife conservation practices, including no harassment or feeding of wildlife. |
| Storm Water/Erosion Control | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | Structural BMPs
• Silt fence and wattles will be placed on the downgradient side of the Oil and Gas Location.
• Upgradient stormwater diversions will be developed to avoid channelization, ponding, or erosion.
• The temporary fuel tank used for well drilling will have integrated secondary containment.
Non-structural BMPs
• Stabilization and re-vegetation will be performed as part of interim reclamation.
• Loose materials and debris will be containerized during well development.
• Vehicles and equipment will be monitored for leaks during well development.
• Absorbents will be made available to address inadvertent spills.
• Ingress, egress, and parking will occur in designated areas.
• Stormwater/erosion control measures monitoring will be performed daily during well drilling and completion operations; stormwater inspections will be performed every 30 days after interim reclamation and during production. |
| Material Handling and Spill Prevention | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | • No hydrocarbons or water will be produced or stored at this location.
• Site personnel will be trained in detecting and addressing spills that may occur on site.
• A catastrophic loss of freshwater will be bermed using the skid steer available on site.
• Equipment and transfer lines will be monitored daily during well drilling and completion for signs of drips, leaks, or spills, which will be corrected promptly.
• Spills or releases will be investigated, controlled or contained, immediately (in accordance with Rule 912.a.).
• If a spill or release meets criteria in Rule 912.b, it will be reported as specified in the rule.
• Site personnel will be instructed on procedures for documenting and recordkeeping inspections and testing.
• The operator will maintain the shutoff valve on the helium gas flowline (in accordance with Rule 1103.a.).
• The flowline will be installed consistent with Rule 1102. In accordance with Rule 1104, before the flowline is put into service, it will be pressure tested to maximum pressure for AVO leak detection.
• Per Rule 1104.c, the operator will conduct a monthly AVO survey to detect failures or signs of leaks from the wellhead and flowline.
• The operator will conduct annual flowline integrity testing in accordance with Rule 1104.f. |
| Dust control | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | • Operator and their contractors will observe posted speed limits to protect public and driver safety.
• Operator and their contractors will observe posted speed limits on unpaved roads to avoid or minimize fugitive dust.
• Operator and their contractors will be instructed to maintain vehicle speeds of 15 mph on access roads.
• Operator and their contractors will cover and secure loads to prevent debris from entering roadways.
• Access Roads will be inspected for potholes and ruts and filled in immediately to discourage vehicles from widening the road.
• Blading or grading for draining, where necessary, to maintain the road surface.
• Operator will apply water on the location during the dry season to areas not needed for traffic to form a less erodible soil. Additionally, the operator will use water application to the surface of the location, cuttings trench (freshwater only), and associated access roads to minimize dust. |
| Drilling/Completion Operations | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | • Construction and drilling will take place during daylight hours.
• Leak inspections will include audio and visual inspections twice daily during drilling and completion operations.
• Through the use of an air drilling system, no hydrocarbon-based drilling mud additives will be used. In the event drilling fluid is needed, it will be water-based bentonitic drilling fluids. |
| Interim Reclamation | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | Topsoil Protection
• The Oil and Gas Location will be prepared for well drilling just sufficient to provide access for a water well-sized drill rig and equipment for a shallow vertical helium gas well. There is anticipated to be minimal vegetation clearing, blading for a level surface, and cut and fill areas of approximately 5 feet, or less.
• The operator will salvage and segregate topsoil based on the depth identified by the NRCS on-site evaluation and soil characteristics of texture, color, structure, consistency, and organic matter.
• Salvaged topsoil will be mounded on the Oil and Gas Location with a slope not greater than 1:3.
• Topsoil will be protected from contamination by stockpiling it in a location free from drilling, fuel storage, and parking.
• Soil removed during flowline trenching will be segregated based on changes in physical characteristics. The soil layers will be windrowed adjacent to the trench.
• Soils from the flowline trench will be replaced promptly in the same order in which they were removed.
• The topsoil stockpile will be protected from compaction by designating it with surveyor staking and flagging as topsoil for reclamation.
• The topsoil stockpile will be protected from wind degradation by mounding at an approximately 1:3 steepness to prevent loose soils while promoting continued microbial activity.
• The topsoil stockpile will be protected from erosion by ensuring that stormwater controls and diversions are installed, as needed, to divert stormwater away from the stockpile.
• The duration of stockpiled topsoil is not anticipated to exceed one growing season because the Oil and Gas Location will support a single vertical helium gas well. Reclamation will occur during the first growing season after the well is drilled. |
| Interim Reclamation | Form: (02A )
402674114
11/19/2021 | Reclamation
• Topsoil - Topsoil will be stockpiled on the location and will be restored on the reclaimed area. Salvaged topsoil will be replaced and contoured to maximize erosion control and soil stability.
• Recontouring - The Oil and Gas Location has an elevation change of approximately 8 feet across the 1-acre surface. Disturbed areas will be recontoured to blend with the pre-disturbance surface and restore natural drainage patterns.
• Seed mix – The operator will use the certified weed-free seed mix identified by NRCS and approved by the landowner.
• Seeding method and Timing – Drill seeding or other method appropriate to promote vegetative success will be conducted during the first favorable growing season after well drilling is complete.
• Fencing – Fencing will be installed around the wellhead.
• Erosion control – Erosion controls will be installed, where needed, and maintained to prevent stormwater runoff and erosion. Erosion controls are shown on Form 2A, Construction Layout Drawing and Oil and Gas Facilities Layout.
• Weed control – The location will be monitored for the presence of invasive weeds and treated, as needed, to prevent invasive weeds from establishing.
• Monitoring – The location will be monitored for vegetative success and reseeded, as necessary, to establish 80 percent of pre-disturbance cover. |