I bet a lot of readers think they’re pretty careful — and environmentally considerate — when handling drilling fluids and solids byproducts.
But, I was thinking of this recently as I attended the Underground Construction Technology (UCT) event in Atlanta last month. During one of the sessions there, I was reminded of the new “Waters of the U.S.” rules. The Obama Administration greatly expanded the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency’s water regulations. This expansion of the waters covered by the Clean Water Act could have a direct effect on drilling activities, particularly those done near even the smallest bodies of water, as well as disposal of all manner of drilling waste.