Ind. Admin. Code tit. 312, r. 29-32-4 – Authorized disposal methods

Sec. 4. (a) This section authorizes the methods for disposing of NORM waste or NORM-contaminated equipment without prior authorization from the division of reclamation, provided written notice is received by the division of reclamation at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to commencing the disposal operation. The notice shall indicate the method proposed for the disposal of the NORM waste and NORM-contaminated equipment.

(b) An owner or operator may dispose of oil and gas NORM waste and NORM-contaminated equipment by placing it between plugs in a well that is being plugged and abandoned, provided the following:

(1) The surface owner of the lease or unit where the disposal occurs provides written consent for the disposal.
(2) The oil and gas NORM waste or NORM-contaminated equipment is placed in the well at a depth of at least two hundred fifty (250) feet below the base of the lowermost underground source of drinking water.
(3) If the oil and gas NORM waste or NORM-contaminated equipment is encased in a tubing string, or if the NORM-contaminated equipment is a tubing string, the tubing must:
1. (A) be placed, not dropped, in the well; and
2. (B) be equipped with an assembly that allows for retrieval unless the string is secured in cement.
(4) A cement plug shall be set immediately above the oil and gas NORM waste or NORM-contaminated equipment and the plug shall be either:
1. (A) above a cement retainer;
2. (B) above a cast iron bridge plug; or
3. (C) tagged to locate its position.
(5) The cement of the surface plug shall be color dyed with red iron oxide.
(6) A permanent marker depicting the three-bladed radiation symbol, without regard to color, shall be welded to the steel plate at the top of the well casing.
(7) The owner or operator shall include the following information on the plan for well plugging submitted to the division of reclamation under 312 IAC 29-33:
1. (A) The physical nature of the oil and gas NORM waste or NORM-contaminated equipment.
2. (B) The volume of oil and gas NORM waste or NORM-contaminated equipment.
3. (C) The radioactivity level of the oil and gas NORM waste, in pCi/g of Radium-226 combined with Radium-228 and any other NORM radionuclides for soil or other media (such as pipe scale, contaminated soil, basic sediment), or in μR/hr for NORM-contaminated equipment (such as pipes, pumps, and valves).
4. (D) The owner or operator of the lease, unit, or facility at which oil and gas NORM waste and NORM-contaminated equipment was generated.
5. (E) The source of the oil and gas NORM waste and NORM-contaminated equipment by field, lease unit, or facility, and producing formation.
6. (F) If the oil and gas NORM waste and NORM-contaminated equipment is to be encased in tubing, the owner or operator shall include the following information:
  1. (i) The size, grade, weight per foot, and outside diameter of the tubing.
  2. (ii) The subsurface depth of both the top and bottom of the tubing.
  3. (iii) The diameter of the retrieval assembly.
  4. (iv) Whether the tubing is free in the hole or is secured by cement, a bridge plug, or a cement retainer.

(c) Unless otherwise prohibited, an owner or operator may dispose of oil and gas NORM waste by burial at the same site where the waste was generated, provided that the waste has been treated or processed so the radioactivity concentration does not exceed five (5) pCi/g above background of Radium-226 combined with Radium-228 or one hundred fifty (150) pCi/g above background of any other NORM radionuclide averaged over the first six (6) inches of soil below surface and does not exceed fifteen (15) pCi/g above background of Radium-226 combined with Radium-228 averaged over succeeding six (6) inch layers. Such treatment or processing, if it occurs at the disposal site, is considered to fall within the definition of disposal. This subsection does not authorize the burial of NORM-contaminated equipment.

(d) An owner or operator may dispose of oil and gas NORM waste at the same site where the waste was generated by applying it to and mixing it with the land surface, provided that after such application and mixing the radioactivity concentration in the area where the NORM waste was applied and mixed does not exceed five (5) pCi/g above background of Radium-226 combined with Radium-228 or one hundred fifty (150) pCi/g above background of any other radionuclide.

(e) An owner or operator may dispose of NORM waste at a disposal facility permitted by the Indiana department of environmental management to accept the waste or a facility in another state if the disposal facility is authorized under its license to receive and dispose of such waste.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-32-4; 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)