Section 312IAC16-5-11. Fire prevention

   (a) To prevent fire hazards, all waste oil, cut oil, bottom sediments, and tank bottoms shall be collected in burn off pits located a safe distance from any oil well, oil storage tank, building, or other structure and shall be burned as necessary to prevent overflowing. Before any burn off pit is constructed, the owner or operator shall file an application with the division on a division form. Waste oil in tank bottoms shall be conveyed from storage tanks to pits in such a manner as to not create a fire hazard. Pits shall be constructed to prevent the escape of oil and of sufficient height to prevent surface water from entering the pit. No pits shall be constructed where the soil is porous and closely underlaid by either gravel or sand strata. These pits shall not be used to collect production brine. The burn off pits and their walls shall be kept free of vegetation.

  (b) All lease and storage tanks shall be surrounded by an impermeable dike that has a capacity of one and one-half (1½) times that of the tank or tanks it surrounds. The dike and the area within the dike shall be maintained free from vegetation, fluids, and inflammable materials. The dike shall not be breached.

  (c) All well, tank, oil heating or treating installation, and booster pump locations shall be kept free from vegetation and inflammable material.

  (d) All gas produced in the operation of oil wells that is not utilized shall not be burned closer than what is a reasonable safe distance from a well, storage tank, or building. (Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 16-5-11; filed Feb 23, 1998, 11:30 a.m.: 21 IR 2341; readopted filed Nov 17, 2004, 11:00 a.m.: 28 IR 1315; readopted filed Mar 25, 2010, 2:57 p.m.: 20100421-IR-312100033RFA; readopted filed Sep 30, 2015, 12:13 p.m.: 20151028-IR-312150224RFA)