RRC pit registration: the July 1, 2026 deadline explained

Updated October 26, 2026 · By Ben Tremblay, founder of WellFlint

Short answer: the Railroad Commission's new Chapter 4 waste rules took effect July 1, 2025. Existing reserve, mud circulation, completion/workover, makeup water, fresh mining water and water condensate pits had until July 1, 2026 to be registered or closed. Basic sediment and flare pits are no longer authorized and had to be closed or permitted by the same date. New pits must be registered before use.

What changed

For decades, Statewide Rule 8 let operators use several kinds of pits without a permit. On July 1, 2025, the RRC replaced those rules with 16 TAC Chapter 4. Most pits that used to be authorized by rule are still allowed without a permit, but now the RRC wants each one registered so it knows where they are. Two common lease pits lost their authorization altogether.

Which pits need what

Existing pits under Chapter 4, from the RRC's authorized pits guidance
Pit	Category	Existing pits
Reserve, mud circulation, completion/workover, makeup water, fresh mining water, water condensate	Schedule A authorized pit	Register or close by July 1, 2026
Produced water recycling (formerly non-commercial fluid recycling)	Schedule B authorized pit	Register and file financial security, or close, by January 1, 2026
Basic sediment pit	No longer authorized	Close or permit by July 1, 2026
Flare pit	No longer authorized	Close or permit by July 1, 2026

For small operators, the line to look at twice is the basic sediment pit. If you still have an old BS pit beside a tank battery, it is no longer allowed without a permit.

How to register a pit

Get a RAMP account. RAMP is the RRC's single sign-in for its online systems. If your company already uses LoneSTAR, ask your security administrator to give you EP-1 submitter rights.
File Form EP-1 in LoneSTAR. The RRC opened online Schedule A registration on July 13, 2026. EP-1 is also how you report a change of pit type or a closure.
Keep the confirmation. The RRC says an authorized pit is registered once complete and correct information is submitted, without waiting for staff approval.
Produced water recycling pits also need Form EP-2, the financial security worksheet, and a bond, letter of credit or cash deposit. Those registrations go by email to AuthPits@rrc.texas.gov.

The RRC accepted emailed EP-1 forms for Schedule A pits until September 1, 2026. After that, use LoneSTAR.

If you missed the deadline

Register or close the pit now, and call the RRC's Environmental Permits and Support Unit at (512) 463-7371 or email AuthPits@rrc.texas.gov to ask what applies to your situation. We can't tell you what enforcement looks like for a particular pit. The RRC can.

A quick checklist for each lease

List every pit on the lease, open or not, with its type and location
Check each against the table above
Register Schedule A pits you are keeping in LoneSTAR on Form EP-1
Close or permit any basic sediment or flare pit
File an EP-1 closure for pits you have closed
Keep the registration numbers with your lease records

Common questions

What was the RRC pit registration deadline on July 1, 2026?

Under the RRC's Chapter 4 rules, existing Schedule A authorized pits (reserve, mud circulation, completion/workover, makeup water, fresh mining water and water condensate pits) had to be registered or closed by July 1, 2026. Basic sediment pits and flare pits had to be closed or permitted by the same date.

Can I still keep a basic sediment pit at my tank battery?

Not as an authorized pit. The RRC says basic sediment and flare pits are no longer authorized under Chapter 4. They had to be closed or permitted by July 1, 2026.

How do I register a pit with the RRC now?

Schedule A pits are registered on Form EP-1 through the RRC's LoneSTAR portal, which opened July 13, 2026. You need an RRC RAMP account. The RRC stopped taking emailed EP-1 forms for Schedule A pits after September 1, 2026. Produced water recycling pits (Schedule B) also need Form EP-2 and financial security.

Do new pits need to be registered?

Yes. A new Schedule A or Schedule B pit must be registered before it is used.

I missed the deadline. What should I do?

Register or close the pit now and call the RRC's Environmental Permits and Support Unit at (512) 463-7371 or email AuthPits@rrc.texas.gov. This guide can't tell you what enforcement applies to your pit; the RRC can.

Texas Form PR due dates for 2026–2027: the other RRC filing on every lease, every month.
RRC Forms P-5, W-10 and H-10: what else small operators file each year.
Run ticket checklist for pumpers

Sources

This guide is a plain-language summary, not legal or regulatory advice. The RRC's rules and notices are the final word.