S.D. Admin. R. 74:55:01:59

Current through Register Vol. 51, page 67, December 16, 2024

Section 74:55:01:59 - Requirements for plugging wells, drill holes, and the repair and conversion of wells

The requirements for plugging drill holes and repair, conversion, and plugging of wells are as follows:

(1) A plan for drill hole plugging and well repair, plugging, and conversion shall be included in the permit application and constitutes a condition of the permit;

(2) All drill holes shall be plugged in accordance with § 74:02:04:67, 74:02:04:69, or 74:02:04:70, as applicable, in a manner that will not allow the movement of fluids either into or between water-bearing strata, including underground sources of drinking water;

(3) The operator shall notify the secretary 45 days before a well within a production area is converted to other uses than injection;

(4) The operator shall notify the secretary 10 days prior to plugging a well so the secretary can witness the plugging;

(5) All abandoned wells shall be plugged or converted, in accordance with the plugging/conversion plan in the permit, to ensure that ground water is protected and preserved for future use and to eliminate any potential physical hazard. A well is considered abandoned if it has not been used for a period of two years, unless the operator submits to the secretary and receives approval for a technical revision demonstrating the operator's intention to use the well again and the actions and specifying procedures that will be taken to ensure that mechanical integrity of the well is maintained and the well will not endanger any unauthorized zone, underground source of drinking water, or water-bearing strata;

(6) All wells completed in confined aquifers or encountering more than one aquifer shall be plugged in accordance with § 74:02:04:67;

(7) All wells completed in unconfined aquifers or with only one aquifer encountered shall be plugged in accordance with § 74:02:04:69;

(8) To ensure that the locations of the abandoned wells are adequately identified:

(a) The boundaries of each wellfield and the location of the monitor wells around each wellfield shall be recorded as a deed notice with the appropriate county; and

(b) The top of the plugging mixture in each abandoned well shall clearly show on a steel plate placed atop the sealing mixture the permit number, well identification number, and information required by the secretary. All marking devices shall be installed at a minimum depth of two feet below the land surface; and

(c) All abandoned wells shall be surveyed using global positioning system equipment that has an accuracy of at least one meter;

(9) Plugging and conversion activities shall be reported in accordance with the requirements in subdivision 74:55:01:49(3)(d).

S.D. Admin. R. 74:55:01:59

8 SDR 71, effective 12/24/1981; 13 SDR 129, 13 SDR 141, effective 7/1/1987; transferred from

General Authority: SDCL 34A-2-93(15).

Law Implemented: SDCL 34A-2-44.