[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR228.108]

[Page 164-165]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
          CHAPTER II--FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 228_MINERALS--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart E_Oil and Gas Resources
 
Sec. 228.108  Surface use requirements.

    (a) General. The operator shall conduct operations on a leasehold on 
National Forest System lands in a manner that minimizes effects on 
surface

[[Page 165]]

resources, prevents unnecessary or unreasonable surface resource 
disturbance, and that is in compliance with the other requirements of 
this section.
    (b) Notice of operations. The operator must notify the authorized 
Forest officer 48 hours prior to commencing operations or resuming 
operations following their temporary cessation (Sec. 228.111).
    (c) Access facilities. The operator shall construct and maintain 
access facilities to assure adequate drainage and to minimize or prevent 
damage to surface resources.
    (d) Cultural and historical resources. The operator shall report 
findings of cultural and historical resources to the authorized Forest 
officer immediately and, except as otherwise authorized in an approved 
surface use plan of operations, protect such resources.
    (e) Fire prevention and control. To the extent practicable, the 
operator shall take measures to prevent uncontrolled fires on the area 
of operation and to suppress uncontrolled fires resulting from the 
operations.
    (f) Fisheries, wildlife and plant habitat. The operator shall comply 
with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR chapter IV), and, 
except as otherwise provided in an approved surface use plan of 
operations, conduct operations in such a manner as to maintain and 
protect fisheries, wildlife, and plant habitat.
    (g) Reclamation. (1) Unless otherwise provided in an approved 
surface use plan of operations, the operator shall conduct reclamation 
concurrently with other operations.
    (2) Within 1 year of completion of operations on a portion of the 
area of operation, the operator must reclaim that portion, unless a 
different period of time is approved in writing by the authorized Forest 
officer.
    (3) The operator must:
    (i) Control soil erosion and landslides;
    (ii) Control water runoff;
    (iii) Remove, or control, solid wastes, toxic substances, and 
hazardous substances;
    (iv) Reshape and revegetate disturbed areas;
    (v) Remove structures, improvements, facilities and equipment, 
unless otherwise authorized; and
    (vi) Take such other reclamation measures as specified in the 
approved surface use plan of operations.
    (h) Safety measures. (1) The operator must maintain structures, 
facilities, improvements, and equipment located on the area of operation 
in a safe and neat manner and in accordance with an approved surface use 
plan of operations.
    (2) The operator must take appropriate measures in accordance with 
applicable Federal and State laws and regulations to protect the public 
from hazardous sites or conditions resulting from the operations. Such 
measures may include, but are not limited to, posting signs, building 
fences, or otherwise identifying the hazardous site or condition.
    (i) Wastes. The operator must either remove garbage, refuse, and 
sewage from National Forest System lands or treat and dispose of that 
material in such a manner as to minimize or prevent adverse impacts on 
surface resources. The operator shall treat or dispose of produced 
water, drilling fluid, and other waste generated by the operations in 
such a manner as to minimize or prevent adverse impacts on surface 
resources.
    (j) Watershed protection. (1) Except as otherwise provided in the 
approved surface use plan of operations, the operator shall not conduct 
operations in areas subject to mass soil movement, riparian areas and 
wetlands.
    (2) The operator shall take measures to minimize or prevent erosion 
and sediment production. Such measures include, but are not limited to, 
siting structures, facilities, and other improvements to avoid steep 
slopes and excessive clearing of land.