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Mineral Well Permits, Plugging

Mineral Well Permits, Plugging

The Oil, Gas, & Minerals Division (OGMD), within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), has the responsibility for issuing permits to plug and abandon brine, solution mining, waste disposal, storage, and test wells under the authority of Part 625 Mineral Wells (formerly Public Act 315 of 1969), of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (NREPA). The purpose of this permit is to ensure proper plugging of these wells to prevent surface and underground waste.

A. NAME OF PERMIT OR APPROVAL:

Application to Plug and Abandon Well

B. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

Part 625, Mineral Wells,Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Public Act 451 of 1994, as amended

C. APPLICABLE REGULATION:

Michigan Administration Code, Rules Administered by EGLE, OGMD

Mineral Wells (R 299.2281 to R 299.2287)

D. SUMMARY OF PERMIT/APPROVAL PROCESS:

 1.  Applicability (activities that require the permit)

Plugging instructions for mineral wells are issued by the Supervisor of Mineral Wells prior to commencing plugging operations.

 2.  Pre-Application Requirements

A mineral well shall be plugged promptly after abandonment. A well which has been inactive for one year is considered to have been abandoned unless otherwise authorized by the Supervisor.

 3.  Application Submission Requirements

Form EQP 7200-6 Application to Plug and Abandon

 4.  Procedures and Time-Frame for Obtaining Permit or Approval
  • Permittee submits Form EQP 7200-6 to the mineral well specialist
  • Permittee may propose or request plugging instructions from the mineral well specialist. After consultation with appropriate district personnel the mineral well specialist will approve or modify proposed instructions or issue plugging instructions
  • The permittee submits a Record of Well Plugging or Change of Well Status (Form EQP 7200-8) within 30 days of completion of plugging
 5.  Operational Requirements

Applicant must comply with all applicable statutes, rules, permit conditions, and stipulations set forth in the application.

 6.  Fees

None

 7.  Appeal Process
  • Hearing before the Supervisor of Mineral Wells
  • Appeal to Circuit Court
 8.  Public Input Opportunities

This is considered a modification of an existing permit (see Section 5.7.8.) The decision maker for this approval is the Mineral Well Specialist in the Mining and Mapping Unit of the OGMD. Mineral well data is not currently available online. Comments or complaints about a mineral well or its related facility may be directed to the Mineral Well Specialist of the Mining and Mapping Unit of OGMD.

E.  ADMINISTERING AGENCY:

EGLE; Oil, Gas, & Minerals Division; Minerals and Mapping Unit; P.O. Box 30256; Lansing, Michigan 48909-7756

  • Program Phone: 517-241-1532

 

Revision Date:

December 2019