Mr. Erik Milito - The House Committee on Natural Resources ...

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR ONSHORE OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION OPERATIONS AND LEASES 11
5.5.4 Ditches, culverts, and drains should be regularly cleaned of debris and sediment to allow the free passage of
water. Periodic inspections of all culverts should be conducted. Culverts found to be blocked should be cleared.
5.5.5 Borrow and surface materials should be readily accessible to be utilized during maintenance operations. Pits
opened during construction should be used as a source for maintenance material, where feasible.
5.5.6 <strong>The</strong> use of dust control materials or measures should be evaluated before their utilization. <strong>The</strong> materials
should not be detrimental to health, vegetation, wildlife, or water quality.
5.5.7 Cutting back weed and hedge growth is essential for road safety. This maintenance operation should be done
with light equipment. Critical review should occur before herbicides or other chemicals used for weed control are
applied.
5.5.8 <strong>The</strong>re should be continuous monitoring of drainage and erosion control structures. <strong>The</strong>y should be
maintained and revised, as required, to provide for the intended function.
5.5.9 Erosion should be prevented and controlled. Areas should be revegetated, and slopes and soils should be
stabilized.
5.5.10 <strong>The</strong>re should be an environmental emergency response plan ready to be placed in action during
construction and maintenance operations. <strong>The</strong> plan should include emergency procedures to be followed in the
event major drainage ways are blocked, fail, or do not perform as required during or immediately after major storm
events.
5.6 Reclamation and Abandonment
5.6.1 Abandonment procedures should comply with regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and lessor
and landowner requirements. Consideration should be given to cost-effective measures that will minimize
environmental impacts. Interim reclamation should be undertaken for portions of the road or areas disturbed during
construction of the road that are not required for vehicle travel. In interim or final reclamation, wherever possible, cut
slopes, fill slopes, and borrow ditches should be recontoured, covered with topsoil and revegetated to restore
habitat, forage and scenic resources, and to reduce soil erosion.
5.6.2 Abandonment procedures may include the following considerations:
a) restoration;
b) abandonment in place;
c) restoration of original or improved drainage;
d) agreement on maintenance requirements, if any, after discontinued use, to be reached between the operator and
new user;
e) agency approval requirements.