Statutes, codes, and regulations
Colorado Administrative Code
Department 1000 - Department of AgricultureDivision 1007 - Plant Industry DivisionRule 6 CCR 1007-1 - RULES AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PESTICIDE APPLICATORS' ACTPart 16 - RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR WELL LOGGING AND SUBSURFACE TRACER STUDIES
NOTIFICATION
Section 6 CCR 1007-1-16.25 - Notification of incidents, abandonment, and lost sources

6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1007-1-16.25

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Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024
Section 6 CCR 1007-1-16.25 - Notification of incidents, abandonment, and lost sources
16.25.1 The licensee shall notify the Department of the theft or loss of radioactive materials, radiation overexposures, excessive levels and concentrations of radiation, and certain other accidents as required by Part 4, Sections 4.51, 4.52, and 4.53.
16.25.2 Whenever a sealed source or device containing radioactive material is lodged downhole, the licensee shall monitor at the surface for the presence of radioactive contamination with a radiation survey instrument or logging tool during logging tool recovery operations.
16.25.3 Notify the Department immediately by telephone and subsequently within 30 days by confirmatory letter if the licensee knows or has reason to believe that a sealed source has been ruptured. This letter shall identify the well or other location, describe the magnitude and extent of the escape of radioactive material, assess the consequences of the rupture, and explain efforts being planned or taken to mitigate these consequences.
16.25.4 If a sealed source becomes lodged in a well, and when it becomes apparent that efforts to recover the radioactive source will not be successful, the licensee shall:
16.25.4.1 Notify the Department by telephone of the circumstances that resulted in the inability to retrieve the source; and
(1) Obtain Department approval to implement abandonment procedures; or
(2) That the licensee implemented abandonment before receiving Department approval because the licensee believed there was an immediate threat to public health and safety; and
16.25.4.2 Advise the well owner or operator, as appropriate, of the abandonment procedures under 16.4.1 or 16.4.3; which shall include:
(1) The immobilization and sealing in place of the radioactive source with a cement plug;
(2) The setting of a whipstock or other deflection device; and
(3) The mounting of a permanent identification plaque at the surface of the well, containing the appropriate information required by 16.25.6; and
16.25.4.3 Either ensure that abandonment procedures are implemented within 30 days after the sealed source has been classified as irretrievable or request an extension of time if unable to complete the abandonment procedures.
16.25.5 The licensee shall, within 30 days after a sealed source has been classified as irretrievable, make a report in writing to the Department. The licensee shall send a copy of the report to each appropriate State or Federal agency that issued permits or otherwise approved of the drilling operation. The report shall contain the following information:
16.25.5.1 Date of occurrence;
16.25.5.2 A description of the well-logging source involved, including the radionuclide and its quantity, chemical, and physical form;
16.25.5.3 Surface location and identification of the well;
16.25.5.4 Results of efforts to immobilize and seal the source in place;
16.25.5.5 A brief description of the attempted recovery effort;
16.25.5.6 Depth of the source;
16.25.5.7 Depth of the top of the cement plug;
16.25.5.8 Depth of the well;
16.25.5.9 The immediate threat to public health and safety justification for implementing abandonment if prior Department approval was not obtained in accordance with 16.25.4.1(2);
16.25.5.10 Any other information, such as a warning statement, contained on the permanent identification plaque; and
16.25.5.11 State and Federal Agencies receiving a copy of this report.
16.25.6 Whenever a sealed source containing radioactive material is abandoned downhole, the licensee shall provide a means to prevent inadvertent intrusion on the source, unless the source is not accessible to any subsequent drilling operations, and shall provide a permanent plaque1 for posting the well or well-bore. This plaque shall:

1 An example of a suggested plaque is shown in Appendix 16B.

16.25.6.1 Be constructed of long-lasting material, such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, or monel;
16.25.6.2 Be mounted at the surface of the well, unless the mounting of the plaque is not practical;
16.25.6.3 Be at least 17 cm (7 inches) square and 3 mm (1/8th inch) thick; and
16.25.6.4 Contain the following information engraved on its face:
(1) The word "CAUTION";
(2) The radiation symbol (the color requirement in Part 4, Section 4.27 need not be met);
(3) The date the source was abandoned;
(4) The name of the well-operator or well-owner, as appropriate;
(5) The well name and well identification number(s) or other designation;
(6) An identification of the sealed source(s) by radionuclide and quantity ;
(7) The depth of the source and the depth to the top of the plug; and
(8) An appropriate warning, depending on the specific circumstances of each abandonment.2

2 Appropriate warnings may include:

(a) "Do not drill below plug-back depth";
(b) "Do not enlarge casing"; or
(c) "Do not re-enter the hole", followed by the words, "before contacting the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Hazardous Materials And Waste Management Division."
16.25.7 The licensee shall immediately notify the Department by telephone and subsequently by confirming letter if the licensee knows or has reason to believe that radioactive material has been lost in or to an underground potable aquifer. Such notice shall designate the well location and shall describe the magnitude and extent of loss of radioactive material, assess the consequences of such loss, and explain efforts planned or being taken to mitigate these consequences.

6 CCR 1007-1-16.25

Colorado Register, Vol 37, No. 14. July 25, 2014, effective 8/14/2014
38 CR 02, January 25, 2015, effective 2/14/2015
38 CR 05, March 10, 2015, effective 3/30/2015
38 CR 12, June 25, 2015, effective 7/15/2015
38 CR 14, July 25, 2015, effective 8/14/2015
39 CR 02, January 25, 2016, effective 2/14/2016
39 CR 16, August 25, 2016, effective 9/14/2016
39 CR 22, November 25, 2016, effective 12/15/2016
40 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 6/30/2017
40 CR 20, October 25, 2017, effective 11/14/2017
42 CR 24, December 25, 2019, effective 1/14/2020
43 CR 14, July 25, 2020, effective 8/14/2020
43 CR 18, September 25, 2020, effective 10/15/2020
44 CR 11, June 10, 2021, effective 7/15/2021
44 CR 14, July 25, 2021, effective 8/14/2021
45 CR 22, November 25, 2022, effective 12/15/2022