Produced Water Disposal & Treatment

Enforcement Actions

The DEQ undertakes enforcement actions to preserve safe environmental conditions throughout Wyoming. 

This page contains information on the enforcement actions that the Water Quality Division may undertake, as well as a record of enforcement actions that have been undertaken by WQD.

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Electronic Documents Submittal

Electronic document submittal is available for WQD permit applications, reports, and other communications.
Visit:  WDEQ Water Quality Division Downloads

You do NOT need to follow up the electronic submission with a hard copy submission unless you are specifically contacted by a WQD staff person with a request to do so.

Need to report a spill or complaint? Please visit https://deqspills.wyo.gov/home

Submitting a public comment? WQD is unable to accept public notice comments through this system. Refer to the public notice document for instructions on how to submit comments or visit https://wq.wyomingdeq.commentinput.com/comment/search.

NOTICE: All applications for water distribution systems and/or sewage collection systems that are within the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) district shall be submitted to the BOPU for approval. Contact Frank Strong or Bryce Dorr at (307) 637-6460, ENGreview@cheyennebopu.org, or http://cheyennebopu.org for additional information.

Recent General Permit Authorizations

The DEQ Water Quality Division accepts comments on all permits authorized under a general permit for a period of 30 days, as provided for in W.S. 35-11-801(d).

Interested persons may mail or fax comments to the main Cheyenne office. The ‘Date’ column in the table below indicates the date the authorization was posted to the website. Comments must be received before 5:00 pm on the 30th day after the authorization was posted to the website. For example, comments for an authorization posted on 10/1/18 must be received by 5:00 p.m. on 10/31/18. DEQ does not accept emailed comments.

You may sort the table by posting date or search for the type of general permit, the county where the permit was issued, the permit number, or the name of the person or company to whom the permit was issued.

If you wish to review the general permit documents, please go to the web page for each permitting program:

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Proposed Rules and Regulations

Water Quality Rules Chapter 12

The Wyoming Environmental Quality Council will consider proposed revisions to the
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Rules Chapter 12, Design and Construction Standards for Public Water Supplies, Docket 22-3103, at a hearing to be held on November 15, 2022 in the Capitol Extension Public Meeting Room 5, Herschler Building, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, WY, 82002, starting at 9:00 a.m. (MST). The revisions include new requirements for public water supplies that propose well acidization, updates to water treatment technologies, and the incorporation by reference of the Recommended Standards for Water Works, 2018 Edition. More information is available at: https://eqc.wyo.gov/Public/Pleadings.aspx?DocketId=4336

Water Quality Rules Chapter 3

The Department of Environmental Quality has revised Water Quality Rules, Chapter 3, Regulations for Permit to Construct, Install or Modify Public Water Supplies,
Wastewater Facilities, Disposal Systems, Biosolids Management Facilities, Treated
Wastewater Reuse Systems and Other Facilities Capable of Causing or Contributing to Pollution.

The Environmental Quality Council adopted the revised rules at a public hearing located at the Capitol Extension Public Meeting Room 5, Herschler Building, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 14, 2022. The final rule was filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State on August 19, 2022.

Electronic copies of the rule are available from the Secretary of State at rules.wyo.gov , under “Current Rules,” “Environmental Quality, Dept of (020),” “Water Quality,” “Chapter 3.”

Water Quality Rules Chapter 29

The Department of Environmental Quality has created a new rule: Water Quality Rules Chapter 29, Geologic Sequestration Special Revenue Account Requirements.

The Environmental Quality Council adopted the new rule at a public hearing located at the Capitol Extension Public Meeting Room 5, Herschler Building, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 14, 2022. The final rule was filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State on August 19, 2022.

Electronic copies of the rule are available from the Secretary of State at rules.wyo.gov, under “Current Rules,” “Environmental Quality, Dept of (020),” “Water Quality,” “Chapter 29.”

Rules and Regulations

All official Wyoming State Rules and Regulations are kept at the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office. Click here to view all current Rules and Regulations.

Produced Water Disposal & Treatment

The Produced Water Disposal & Treatment Permitting group is responsible for permitting facilities that treat water generated from coal bed methane, oil or gas production. Road or land application projects and commercial oilfield wastewater disposal facilities are also permitted by this group.

These permits use the standard construction permitting process described on the Obtaining a Permit tab above and frequently use the Pilot Plant general permit.  The Permitting Guidelines for Treatment of Produced Water document lists additional criteria for these permits. 

Additional permitting may be required for surface water (WYPDES Program) or groundwater (Groundwater Pollution Control (GPC) Program) discharges of produced water. 

 When no other alternative is reasonably available for disposal of limited quantities of wastewater or exploration and production exempt oily wastes, a Road Application of Waste or Wastewater permit may be requested. These permits also use the standard construction permitting process described on the General Permits page.

Commercial oilfield waster wastewater disposal facilities (COWDF) can accept some exploration and production wastes, depending on the nature of the waste. Click for a List of Active COWDFs or a Map of Active COWDFs

COWDFs are required to post a bond for closure and post-closure inspection, maintenance, and environmental monitoring.  Access DEQ bonding forms and instructions.

If you are interested in submitting a Trade Secret Confidentiality Request, click here.

Submit a Certificate-of-Completion form when construction is complete.

Submit a Permit-Transfer-of-Ownership form if the ownership of a permitted facility is transferred to another party.

Contact

Please contact us with any questions you have about the Water and Wastewater Section.  

Water and Wastewater Section Manager:

  • Keenan Hendon
    Tel 307-777-7075, email: keenan.hendon2@wyo.gov

Water and Wastewater Construction Permitting:

  • Bradley Ellis, P.E.- Northeast District Engineer
    Tel 307-473-3469, email: bradley.ellis@wyo.gov
  • Dale Lee, P.E -Assistant Northeast District Engineer
    Tel 307-675-5640, email: dale.lee@wyo.gov
  • James Brough, P.E. – Northwest District Engineer
    Tel 307-335-6961, email: james.brough@wyo.gov
  • Dennis Lewis, P.E. – Southeast District Engineer
    Tel 307-777-7088, email: dennis.lewis@wyo.gov
  • Jason Fernandez, P.E. - Assistant Southeast District Engineer
    Tel 307-777-7388, email: jason.fernandez4@wyo.gov
  • Mark Baron, P.E. – Southwest District Engineer
    Tel 307-335-6962, email: mark.baron@wyo.gov

State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF):

  • Stan Miller, SRF Principal Engineer  
    Tel 307-777-6371, email: stanley.miller@wyo.gov
  • Shawn King, SRF Project Manager  
    Tel 307-777-6941, email: shawn.king2@wyo.gov 

Oil and Gas Produced Water Treatment and Disposal:

  • Dennis Lamb, P.G., Principal
    Tel 307-473-3452, email: dennis.lamb@wyo.gov
  • Hannes Stueckler, P.E.  
    Tel 307-777-6941, email: hannes.stueckler@wyo.gov

Operator Certification:

  • Kim Parker
    Tel 307-777-6128, email: kim.parker@wyo.gov

Enforcement:

Anthony Rivers
Tel 307-777-6183, email: anthony.rivers@wyo.gov

Obtaining a Permit

Chapters 3, 11, 12, 25, 26, and 28 of the Wyoming Water Quality Rules outline the requirements for construction permitting and are available on the Secretary of State website, under the Department Environmental Quality, Water Quality program.

Permit Application Instructions
Step 1: Complete a
Water and Wastewater Permit to Construct Application form - Chapter 3 permit (See Below). Submit one copy of the design report and construction plans and specifications to the District Engineer for the county (see District Map) in which construction will take place, and one electronic copy to the WDEQ Water Quality Division Document Uploads link above.  Both copies must be sealed, signed, and dated by a Wyoming licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

If you are interested in submitting a Trade Secret Confidentiality Request, click here.

Step 2: DEQ will review the application for compliance with the Water Quality Rules.  The DEQ will issue an individual or general permit, or a permit by rule permit depending on the proposed design. Please contact the District Engineer for the county in which construction will take place if you need more information about which permit is required (see District Map).

Step 3: Once a permit is issued, the permittee shall complete construction within the timeframe specified in the permit, which will not exceed 5 years from the date of issuance or written notification of coverage.  If construction is not completed within this time frame, the permittee shall apply for a new construction permit.

Step 4: Submit a Certificate of Completion form (See Below) when construction is complete.

Submit a Transfer of Ownership form (See Below) if the ownership of a permitted facility is transferred to another party.

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

District Map

Map of Water and Wastewater Districts showing the counties in each District, the District Engineers and Assistant District Engineers, and their contact information.

Interactive GIS map.  Use this map to determine the legal description or lat/long of your projects.