New EPA Texas Coastal Water General Discharge Permit

On November 15, 2001, EPA Region 6 today issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit regulating discharges from oil and gas wells in the Coastal Subcategory in Texas and regulating produced water discharges from wells in the Striper and Offshore Subcategories which discharge into coastal waters of Texas. While this permit is primarily of interest to oil and gas production companies, it could also impact DOT jurisdictional pipeline operators in this area.

The permit prohibits the discharge of drilling fluid, drill cuttings, produced sand and well treatment, completion and workover fluids. Produced water discharges are prohibited, except from wells in the Stripper Subcategory located east of the 98th meridian whose produced water comes from the Carrizo/Wilcox, Reklaw or Bartosh formations in Texas. Discharge of dewatering effluent is prohibited, except from reserve pits which have not received drilling fluids and/or drill cuttings since January 15, 1997. The discharge of deck drainage, formation test fluids, sanitary waste, domestic waste and miscellaneous discharges is authorized. All of the authorized discharges have effluent limitations.

The limits and monitoring requirements in this permit are effective on December 17, 2001. The full notice and permit conditions can be obtained on RCP's website at 66 FR 57457 11-15-01 TX Coastal Gen Disch Permit.pdf.