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

Affected: IC 14-37

Sec. 3. (a) An owner or operator may defer the plugging and abandoning of a well as required under section 1 of this rule for a well that has been drilled, completed, and cased for production, if:

1. (1) the well is otherwise in compliance with IC 14-37 and this article; and
2. (2) the owner or operator satisfies the requirements of this section.

(b) The owner or operator shall specify the date by which the well is intended to be plugged, which shall not be more than one (1) year from the date of providing notice under this section.

(c) For any well that a notice of intent to defer plugging and abandonment is provided, the owner or operator shall do the following:

1. (1) Equip the well with an intact, leak-free well head or cap the well with a valve configured to monitor casing or casing-tubing annulus pressure.

2. (2) If requested by the division director, demonstrate that the well does not threaten an underground source of drinking water by:

   1. (A) monitoring well head pressures and fluid levels in the well; or
   2. (B) performing a mechanical integrity test on the casing.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 29-33-3; filed Dec 1, 2017, 10:35 a.m.: 20171227-IR-312160230FRA; readopted filed Jan 17, 2023, 1:53 p.m.: 20230215-IR-312220328RFA)