Atascadero Municipal Code Ch. 1 Abandonment of Wells

For the purposes set forth herein, the abandonment of any well drilled for oil or gas shall be deemed complete upon the approval of abandonment by the State Division of Oil and Gas.

(County Code § 7.04.010)

Upon abandonment of any well drilled for oil, gas or other hydrocarbon substances in the City, all earthen sumps used in conjunction with the drilling of such wells shall be emptied of all liquid petroleum oil and refilled with dry earth and the premises restored as nearly as possible to its original grade and condition.

(County Code § 7.04.020)

It is unlawful for any person to use or cause to be used, or to maintain or cause to be maintained, any earthen storage reservoir, or pit or excavation, for the purpose of storing petroleum or its byproducts or any inflammable matter above one foot below the natural ground level, unless the interior of the earthen storage reservoir is lined and reinforced on the sides thereof with reinforced concrete two inches thick, the concrete also to extend three feet below the natural ground level, and unless the earthen storage reservoir, or pit, or excavation is entirely surrounded at the ground level thereof by a wire netting six feet in height of which the open spaces or interstices shall not be more than one inch in greatest diameter.

(County Code § 7.04.030)

Any earthen storage reservoir, pit or excavation wherein the oil level is higher or more than one foot below the natural ground level must have walls constructed of well compacted earth, having a minimum horizontal width of six feet, and the slope of such walls shall not be steeper than a rise of one foot vertically to one and one-half (1-1/2) feet horizontally, and lined with concrete as before mentioned. For the purpose of determining the natural ground level, the lowest point within 100 feet from the nearest inside surface of the reservoir shall be considered the natural ground level.

(County Code § 7.04.040)

All such earthen storage reservoirs, pits or excavations shall be constructed so that no point of the inside of the same is within 50 feet of the property line of an adjoining property owner, and each such earthen storage reservoir, pit or excavation shall be surrounded by an auxiliary or secondary overflow reservoir similarly constructed, except as to the concrete lining, and with a capacity 50% greater than the earthen storage reservoir, pit or excavation. No petroleum or petroleum byproducts shall be stored or allowed to remain in the auxiliary outside reservoirs.

(County Code § 7.04.050)

(a) All earthen storage reservoirs, pits, excavations and such auxiliary reservoirs shall at all times be kept free and clear of all grass, brush, refuse or other inflammable materials in said auxiliary outside reservoirs.

(b) All earthen storage reservoirs must be fenced with a good stock fence.

(c) It is unlawful to allow the level of any petroleum or its byproducts or any inflammable matter in any earthen storage reservoir, pit or excavation to rise above a point 12 inches below the lowest point of the enclosing walls of the same. Such point shall be marked by a gauge or marker at least four inches square, located at a point most accessible for gauging, and the top of such gauge shall indicate the maximum liquid level.

(d) The term "earthen storage reservoir, pit or excavation," as used in this chapter, shall not apply to any sump or other excavation used in connection with and/or as an adjunct to a drilling or producing well.

(County Code § 7.04.060)