---
kind: "range"
citation: "36 C.F.R. §§ 9.82–9.90"
title: "36"
from: "9.82"
to: "9.90"
count: 9
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/36/9.82..9.90"
---

# §9.82. What must I include in my application?

- (a) Your application for an operations permit must include all of the information required by [§ 9.83](/cfr/36/9.83.md) and, to the extent applicable, the information required by [§§ 9.87 through 9.90](/cfr/36/9.87..9.90.md), as well as any additional information that the Superintendent may require by written request.
- (b) You may provide information for only the phase of operations you propose. Each permit application is only required to describe those activities for which you request approval. Approval of an operations permit covering one phase of operations does not assure future approval of, or the terms of future approval for, an operations permit covering a subsequent phase.

# §9.83. What information must be included in all applications?


All applications must include the information required by this section.


# §9.84. Existing conditions and proposed area of operations.

- (a) You must submit to-scale maps that clearly depict:
  - (1) The boundaries of your oil or gas rights in relation to your proposed operations and the relevant System unit boundary;
  - (2) The natural features, including, but not limited, to streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, seepage areas, springs, shallow water aquifers, topographic relief, and areas we have indicated to you as environmentally sensitive;
  - (3) The locations of existing roads, trails, railroad tracks, pads, and other disturbed areas; and
  - (4) **The locations of existing structures that your operations could affect, including but not limited to—** Buildings, pipelines, existing or permitted oil or gas wells, freshwater wells, underground and overhead electrical lines, and other utility lines.
- (b) You must submit the following information about geologic conditions in their natural state and under the proposed operating conditions:
  - (1) Estimated depths and names of known zones of usable water, brine, hydrocarbon, geothermal, or other mineral-bearing zones based on the best available information;
  - (2) Potential hazards to persons and the environment such as known abnormal pressure zones, lost circulation zones, hydrogen sulfide gas, or karst formations; and
  - (3) Nature, extent, and depth (if known) of near-surface bedrock fracturing or jointing relative to proposed cemented surface casing-seat depth and any open annular interval proposed in the well design.
- (c) You must submit the following information for any new surface disturbances or construction:
  - (1) Maps depicting the proposed area of operations, boundaries of new surface disturbances and proposed access routes;
  - (2) Maps depicting the proposed location of all support facilities, including those for transportation (e.g., vehicle parking areas, airstrips, helicopter pads), sanitation, occupation, staging areas, fuel dumps, refueling areas, loading docks, water supplies, and disposal facilities;
  - (3) The methods and diagrams, including cross-sections, of any proposed pad construction, road construction, cut-and-fill areas, and surface maintenance, including erosion control;
  - (4) The number and types of equipment and vehicles, including an estimate of vehicular trips, associated with each phase of your operation;
  - (5) An estimated time to complete each phase of the proposed operations, including any operational timing constraints;
  - (6) The type and extent of security measures proposed within your area of operations;
  - (7) The power sources and their transmission systems for the proposed operations; and
  - (8) The types and quantities of all solid and liquid waste generation and the proposed methods of storage, handling, and off-site disposal.

# §9.85. Environmental conditions and mitigation actions.


You must submit the following information about environmental conditions and mitigation actions:

- (a) Description of the natural and cultural resource conditions from your reconnaissance surveys or other sources collected for your proposed area of operations. The Superintendent may require, on a case by case basis, baseline field testing of soils and field or laboratory testing of surface, or near-surface, waters within your area of operations, as well as any groundwater resources that may reasonably may be impacted by your surface operations;
- (b) Description of the steps you propose to take to mitigate any adverse environmental impacts on park resources and values, including but not limited to, the System unit's land features, land uses, fish and wildlife, vegetation, soils, surface and subsurface water resources, air quality, noise, lightscapes, viewsheds, cultural resources, and economic environment; and
- (c) **Discussion of—**
  - (1) Any anticipated impacts that you cannot mitigate; and
  - (2) All alternative technologically feasible, least damaging methods of operations, their costs, and their environmental effects.

# §9.86. Spill control and emergency preparedness plan.


You must submit the following information about your spill control and emergency preparedness plan. You may use a spill prevention control and countermeasure (SPCC) plan prepared under [40 CFR part 112](/cfr/40/part112.md) if the plan includes all of the information required by this section. You must submit:

- (a) A list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons that the Superintendent can contact in the event of a spill, fire, or accident, including the order in which the persons should be contacted;
- (b) Your reporting procedures in the event of a spill, fire, or accident;
- (c) Identification of contaminating or toxic substances expected to be used within your area of operations;
- (d) Identification of abnormal pressure, temperature, toxic gases or substances, or other hazardous conditions expected to be encountered during operations;
- (e) Measures (e.g., procedures, facility design, equipment) to minimize risks to human health and safety and the environment;
- (f) Steps to prevent conditions creating fire hazards in the vicinity of well locations and lease tanks;
- (g) List of equipment and methods for containment and cleanup of contaminating substances, including a list of the equipment to be maintained on site as well as a list of equipment to be available from local contractors;
- (h) A storm water drainage plan and actions intended to mitigate storm water runoff;
- (i) Safety data sheets for each material expected to be used or encountered during operations, including quantities expected to be maintained at your area of operations;
- (j) A description of the emergency actions you will take in the event of accidents causing human injury; and
- (k) Contingency plans for relevant conditions and emergencies other than spills, based on the particular geographic area, such as hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, or earthquakes.

# §9.87. What additional information must be included if I am proposing geophysical exploration?


If you propose to conduct geophysical exploration, you must submit the following additional information:

- (a) The number of crews and expected numbers of workers in each crew;
- (b) Names and depths of geologic zones targeted for imaging;
- (c) A description of the acquisition methods, including the procedures, specific equipment you will use, and energy sources (e.g., explosives or vibroseis trucks);
- (d) The methods of access along each survey line for personnel, materials, and equipment;
- (e) A list of all explosives, blasting equipment, chemicals, and fuels you will use in the proposed operations, including a description of proposed disposal methods, transportation methods, safety measures, and storage facilities; and
- (f) A map showing the positions of each survey line including all source and receiver locations as determined by a locational survey, and including shotpoint offset distances from wells, buildings, other infrastructure, and areas the NPS has indicated to you as environmentally sensitive areas.

# §9.88. What additional information must be included if I am proposing drilling operations?


If you are proposing to drill a well, you must submit the following additional information:

- (a) **Well-pad construction plans, including dimensions and cross sections of—** cut and fill areas and excavations for ditches, sumps, and spill control equipment or structures, including lined areas;
- (b) Drill-rig and equipment layout plans, including rig components, fuel tanks, testing equipment, support facilities, storage areas, and all other well-site equipment and facilities;
- (c) The drilling program, including hole size for each section and the directional program, if applicable;
- (d) Proposed drilling depth and the estimated depths and names of usable water, brine, hydrocarbon, geothermal, or other mineral-bearing zones;
- (e) The type and characteristics of the proposed mud systems;
- (f) The casing program, including the size, grade, weight, and setting depth of each string;
- (g) The cementing program, including downhole location of any stage equipment, cement types, volumes, and additives to be used, and a description of pressure tests and cement verification techniques used that will be run to evaluate cement placement and integrity;
- (h) The minimum specifications for pressure control equipment function, and pressure testing frequency, and the blowout preventer stack arrangement;
- (i) The proposed logging, coring, and testing programs;
- (j) The completion program, including completion type (open-hole, perforated, slotted liner, etc.), any proposed stimulation techniques, and procedures, including considerations for well control; and
- (k) A description of the equipment, materials, and procedures for well plugging, including plug depths, plug types, and minimum mud weight.

# §9.89. What additional information must be included if I am proposing well stimulation operations, including hydraulic fracturing?


If you are proposing well stimulation operations, including hydraulic fracturing, you must submit the following additional information:

- (a) The geologic names, a geologic description, and the estimated depths (measured and true vertical) to the top and bottom of the target formation(s). The estimated minimum vertical distance between the top of the completion zone and the nearest usable water zone, and the measured depth of the proposed perforated or open-hole interval.
- (b) **The estimated depths (measured and true vertical) to the top and bottom of the confining zone(s).** Include a map showing the location, orientation, and extent of any known or suspected faults or fractures within one-half mile (horizontal distance) of the wellbore trajectory that may transect the confining zone(s).
- (c) A map showing all existing wellbore trajectories, regardless of type, within one-half mile (horizontal distance) of any portion of the wellbore into which hydraulic fracturing fluids are to be injected. The true vertical depth of each wellbore identified on the map must be indicated.
- (d) Steps to be taken before well completions to verify mechanical integrity of all downhole tubulars and tools and cement quality, including pressure tests, monitoring of cement returns to surface, and cement evaluation logs (or other logs acceptable to the Superintendent) demonstrating that the occurrences of usable water zones have been isolated to protect them from contamination.
- (e) **A detailed description of the proposed well-stimulation design, including—**
  - (1) The total proposed volume of stimulation fluid to be used; total proposed base fluid volume, description of proposed base fluid, and each additive in the proposed stimulation fluid, including the trade name, supplier, purpose, ingredients; Chemical Abstract Service Number (CAS); maximum ingredient concentration in additive (percent by mass); and maximum ingredient concentration in hydraulic fracturing fluid (percent by mass);
  - (2) Proposed proppant system if applicable;
  - (3) The anticipated surface treating pressure range;
  - (4) The maximum anticipated surface pressure that will be applied during the hydraulic fracturing process;
  - (5) The trajectory of the wellbore into which hydraulic fracturing fluids are to be injected and the estimated direction and length of the fractures that will be propagated and a notation indicating the true vertical depth of the top and bottom of the fractures; and
  - (6) **Any microseismic monitoring planned or proposed in conjunction with well stimulation.**
- (f) The source and location of water supply, such as reused or recycled water, rivers, creeks, springs, lakes, ponds, and water supply wells, and the source and location of water supply, such as reused or recycled water, rivers, creeks, springs, lakes, ponds, and water supply wells.
- (g) **The storage, mixing, pumping, and control equipment needed to perform the stimulation.**
- (h) **The following information concerning the handling of recovered fluids—**
  - (1) The estimated volume of stimulation fluids to be recovered during flow back;
  - (2) The proposed methods of handling the recovered fluids including any onsite treatment for re-use of fluids in other stimulation activities; and
  - (3) The proposed disposal method of the recovered fluids, including, but not limited to, injection, hauling by truck, or transporting by pipeline.

# §9.90. What additional information must be included if I am proposing production operations?


If you are proposing production operations, you must submit the following information:

- (a) The dimensions with a to-scale layout of the wellpad, clearly identifying well locations, noting partial reclamation areas; gathering, separation, metering, and storage equipment; electrical lines; fences; spill control equipment or structures including lined areas, artificial lift equipment, tank batteries, treating and separating vessels, secondary or enhanced recovery facilities, water disposal facilities, gas compression and/or injection facilities; metering points; sales point (if on lease); tanker pick-up points; gas compressor, including size and type (if applicable); and any other well site equipment;
- (b) The size, grade, weight, and setting depth of all casing and tubing strings; cementing history; type and size of packers and subsurface flow control devices; top and bottom depths of each completed interval; and method of completion;
- (c) The well history, including completions, stimulations, servicing, and workovers;
- (d) The minimum specifications for pressure-control equipment, function, and pressure-testing frequency;
- (e) The methods and means to be used to transport produced oil and gas, including vehicular transport; flowline and gathering line construction; operation; pipe size; operating pressure; cathodic protection methods; surface equipment use; surface equipment location; maintenance procedures; maintenance schedules; pressure detection methods; and shutdown procedures;
- (f) Road and wellpad maintenance plan, including equipment and materials to maintain the road surface and control erosion;
- (g) Vegetation management plan on well sites, roads, pipeline corridors, and other disturbed surface areas, including control of exotic species;
- (h) Storm water management plan on the well site;
- (i) Produced water storage and disposal plan; and
- (j) **The procedures for well plugging, the depths and the types of plugs, and minimum mud weight.**