The supervisor shall establish guidelines for the reclamation of land impacted by oil and gas drilling and production activities.

The owner, operator, or producer of the well or wells shall develop a reclamation plan for the area disturbed in site preparation, drilling, completing, or producing a well or wells, and submit the reclamation plan to the supervisor for approval. The owner, operator, or producer shall, before the reclamation plan is implemented, consult affected state agencies, including the department of wildlife, before submitting the reclamation plan to the supervisor. Reclamation shall be accomplished in accordance with the reclamation plan and the following:

1. (1) Within three months after the completion or abandonment of a well the operator shall fill all pits containing mud, cuttings, salt water and oil that are not needed for production purposes, or are not required or allowed by state or federal law or rule or regulation, and remove all concrete bases, drilling supplies, and drilling equipment. Within such period the operator shall grade or terrace, and plant, seed, or sod the area disturbed, that is not required in production of the well, to bind the soil and prevent substantial erosion and sedimentation.
2. (2) Within three months after the plugging of a well, the operator shall remove all production and storage structures, supplies and equipment, and any oil, saltwater and debris and fill any remaining excavations. Within such period the operator shall grade or terrace, and plant, seed, or sod the area disturbed to bind the soil and prevent substantial erosion and sedimentation.

3. (3) Groundwater and soil resources on and adjacent to seismic surveys shall be provided the greatest practical protection on a continuing basis. The minimum reclamation program for seismic surveys shall provide for:

   1. (a) Successful revegetation of disturbed ground to prevent substantial erosion and sedimentation within three months of cessation of operations;
   2. (b) Removal of refuse and discarded equipment to a licensed landfill;
   3. (c) Plugging of all shot holes that encountered water upon completion of each day's work with a nontoxic plug-mud or cement;
   4. (d) Regrading, when appropriate, of areas where disruption of topography has occurred, such as deep tire tracks, such that reclaimed topography conforms with adjacent, undisturbed topography;

   5. (e) Installation of erosion elimination devices where drainage or soil conditions indicate erosion may occur.

      The supervisor may, upon written application by an operator, find reasonable cause to extend the period in which reclamation shall be completed, but not to exceed one year.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 78.52.120, 78.52.155, 78.52.040 and 78.52.050. WSR 88-14-026 (Order 11), § 344-12-145, filed 6/29/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.52.050 and chapter 78.52 RCW. WSR 82-12-052 (Order 3, Resolution No. 7), § 344-12-145, filed 6/1/82.]