The Nevada Division of Minerals (Nevada Commission of Mineral Resources) administers programs and activities to further the responsible development and production of Nevada 's mineral resources, including the regulation of oil- and gas-well drilling operations. Otherwise, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (Nevada Department of Conservation and Mineral Resources) administers the major environmental protection laws.

Contact

Nevada Division of Minerals
(Carson City Office)
400 West King Street, Suite 106
Carson City, NV 89703
(775) 684-7040 (phone)
(775) 684-7052 (fax)

(Las Vegas Office)
2030 East Flamingo Road, Suite 220
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 486-4343 (phone)
(702) 486-4345 (fax)

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
(Carson City Office)
901 S. Stewart St, Ste 4001
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 687-4670 (phone)
(775) 687-5856 (fax)

(Las Vegas Office)
2030 East Flamingo Road, Suite 230
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 486-2850 (phone)
(702) 486-2863 (fax)

Produced Water Management Practices and Applicable Regulations

The oil and gas regulations administered by the Nevada Division of Minerals are contained in Chapter 522 of the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC). The regulations administered by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) are provided in various portions of the NAC. Chapter 445A governs Water Controls and Chapter 444 governs Sanitation (Solid Waste Disposal).

• NAC 522.185  (Protection of Fresh Water):
  • Fresh water must be protected from pollution when disposing of salt water already produced.
  • All operations must be carried on so as to prevent pollution of any stream or other watercourse of this state, or of any subsurface water, as the result of the escape, release, or injection of salt water from any well.

• NAC 522.255  (Collecting Pits):
  • No operator who conducts oil or gas development and production may use unlined collecting pits for storage and evaporation of brines from the oil field.
  • The division may approve the use of impervious collecting pits in conjunction with approved operations for disposal of salt water.

• NAC 522.380  (Procedure for Underground Disposal of Water):
  • The underground disposal of salt water, brackish water, or other water unfit for domestic use or for livestock, irrigation, or other use is permitted only upon approval of the administrator.
  • Disposal wells must be cased and the casing cemented in such a manner that no damage is caused to fresh water, oil, gas, or other minerals. All injection must be through tubing and below the packer unless another means is approved by the administrator.
  • The application to dispose of salt water, brackish water, or other water unfit for domestic use or for livestock, irrigation, or other use must be verified by the applicant and filed in duplicate with the division. The application must include the information required by the regulations.

• NAC 522.400 (Permit for Secondary Recovery Operations Required):
  • Any method for maintaining pressure or recovering additional oil or gas, other than a method consisting of primary recovery techniques, may be used only upon approval of the administrator. Such approval may be obtained by filing an application in accordance with the applicable regulations.
  • The application must include the information required by the regulations.

• Consolidated Oil and Gas Forms

• Standards for Water Quality
  • Standards Applicable to Beneficial Uses (NAC 445A.122):
• Watering of livestock. The water must be suitable for the watering of livestock without treatment.
• Irrigation. The water must be suitable for irrigation without treatment.
• Aquatic life. The water must be suitable as a habitat for fish and other aquatic life existing in a body of water. This does not preclude the reestablishment of other fish or aquatic life.
• Recreation involving contact with the water. There must be no evidence of man-made pollution, floating debris, sludge accumulation or similar pollutants.
• Recreation not involving contact with the water. The water must be free from certain materials and features.
• Municipal or domestic supply. The water must be capable of being treated by conventional methods of water treatment in order to comply with Nevada 's drinking water standards.
• Industrial supply. The water must be treatable to provide a quality of water that is suitable for the intended use.
• Propagation of wildlife. The water must be suitable for the propagation of wildlife and waterfowl without treatment.
• Waters of extraordinary ecological or aesthetic value. The unique ecological or aesthetic value of the water must be maintained.
• Enhancement of water quality. The water must support natural enhancement or improvement of water quality in any water that is downstream.

• NRS 445A.465 (Injection of Fluids through Well or Discharge of Pollutant without Permit prohibited):
  • Except as authorized by a permit issued by the Department pursuant to the provisions of NRS 445A.300 to 445A.730 (inclusive), and regulations adopted by the Commission, it is unlawful for any person to:
• Discharge from any point source any pollutant into any waters of the State or any treatment works;
• Inject fluids through a well into any waters of the State;
• Discharge from a point source a pollutant or inject fluids through a well that could be carried into the waters of the State by any means; or
• Allow a pollutant discharged from a point source or fluids injected through a well to remain in a place where the pollutant or fluids could be carried into the waters of the State by any means.
• The Commission shall adopt regulations that provide a simplified procedure for approval by the Department of certain permits.

• Discharge Permits
  • Subject to certain exceptions, a person shall not discharge a pollutant from a point source into any waters of this State (defined at NRS 445A.415) without obtaining a permit from the Department (NAC 445A.228).
  • In establishing an effluent limitation, consideration must be given to, but is not limited by, the following (NAC 445A.243):
• The effect of the discharge on the receiving waters and its beneficial use;
• The need for standards that specify by chemical, physical, biological or other characteristics the extent to which pollution by various substances will not be tolerated;
• Standards for water quality and effluent limitations promulgated from time to time by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; and
• In the application of water quality standards and limitations and other legally applicable requirements, the Director shall, for each issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, specify average and maximum daily quantitative limitations for the level of pollutants in the authorized discharge.

• Underground Injection Control
  • A Class II well is an injection well for the production and storage of oil and gas and includes (NAC 445A.846):
• A well that injects fluids brought to the surface in connection with the conventional production of oil or natural gas; and
• A well that injects fluids for enhanced recovery of oil or natural gas.
• The regulations contain the requirements for permitting, construction, operation, monitoring, and abandonment:
• An applicant for a permit for a Class II well must include in his application the following information concerning the injection formation (NAC 445A.868): the fluid pressure; the estimated fracture pressure; and the physical and chemical characteristics of the injection zone.