Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-37-3

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 1. (a) The discharge of fluids from any activity associated with workover operations to any surface or ground waters or in a location where it is likely to cause pollution to any surface or groundwater is prohibited.

(b) Unless steel tanks are used the owner or operator shall use a lined workover pit to contain all fluids that will be used or generated during workover operations. A workover pit shall be constructed and maintained:

1. (1) in accordance with the same requirements as for lined drilling and completion pits under 312 IAC 29-21-1 and 312 IAC 29-21-2;
2. (2) with a compacted clay liner applied to the bottom and sides of the pit to create an impervious barrier. Construction of the compacted clay liner shall be in accordance with accepted construction and design principles necessary to prevent any leakage or seepage from the pit. The clay used to construct the liner may be in situ or mixed with additional off-site materials, if the on-site clay is inadequate; or
3. (3) using other materials or methods of liner construction if authorized by the division director after the owner or operator demonstrates that equivalent protection and prevention of leakage or seepage of fluids from the pit can be achieved.

(c) Workover pits shall be used only for the temporary storage of workover fluid wastes as provided in this rule and shall not be used for the storage of other wastes that are not directly resulting from workover operations.

(d) The division of reclamation shall issue notice of approval or denial of an application submitted under subsection (b)(3) in accordance with 312 IAC 29-3-5.

(e) A decision to approve or deny an application submitted under subsection (b)(3) is subject to IC 4-21.5.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-23-1; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA; readopted filed Jan 17, 2023, 1:53 p.m.: 20230215-IR-312220328RFA; errata filed Mar 18, 2026, 9:59 a.m.: 20260325-IR-312260094ACA)