What are the legal requirements when disposing of saltwater produced by oil and gas operations?

In California, there are several legal requirements that have to be met when disposing of saltwater (brine) produced by oil and gas operations. First and foremost, operators must comply with the California Water Code Section 13241.1 which requires that any brine be safely stored and securely contained. Operators must also ensure that any brine wastewater is transported to a suitable disposal facility and is disposed of in a manner that does not contaminate any water sources. In addition, operators must adhere to California Water Quality Control Board (under the California Code of Regulations) requirements which mandate that saltwater produced must not contain any pollutants and must not exceed the saltwater concentration requirements set in place by the State. Any saltwater that does not meet the standards must be treated before disposal. Lastly, any saltwater produced must be disposed of in accordance with the requirements set forth in the California Salt and Brine Management Act which requires that any brine wastewater must be disposed of in a secure and environmentally safe manner. Operators must also obtain a permit from the California Department of Conservation prior to disposing of brine wastewater. These are the three main legal requirements that have to be met in California when disposing of saltwater produced by oil and gas operations. All operators are required to comply with these laws in order to protect the environment and ensure the safety of California’s water sources.

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What are the legal requirements when disposing of saltwater produced by oil and gas operations?

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