Print this pageSIMS, BART C.
Railroad
Commission of Texas, Austin, TX
Abstract: Regulation of Hazardous
Waste
in the Oil Field: the Railroad Commission of Texas' Approach
Many wastes generated in association
with crude oil and natural gas exploration and production activities are
exempt from regulation as hazardous waste. However, nonexempt oil and gas
waste is subject to a hazardous waste determination, and if determined
to be hazardous waste, is subject to standards for management of hazardous
waste. Hazardous waste management standards are established by the federal
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Subtitle C (RCRA Subtitle C). A
state may enforce these standards through a hazardous waste program authorized
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or EPA may retain RCRA
Subtitle C authority in a state. The Railroad Commission of Texas enforces
standards equivalent to RCRA Subtitle C through Statewide Rule 98, "Standards
for Management of Hazardous Oil and Gas Waste." The Railroad Commission
of Texas' hazardous oil and gas waste program has not yet been authorized
by EPA; therefore, the Railroad Commission of Texas and EPA share parallel
authority over hazardous oil and gas waste in Texas.
Statewide Rule 98 is structured to address the
application of federal hazardous waste regulation to the unique circumstances
of oil and gas operations. This paper provides an overview of the regulatory
process for hazardous oil and gas waste in Texas, including the application
of important exemptions and exclusions and the most common applicable management
standards.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90928©1999 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas