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National Information

 

Regional Information

Underground Injection Control

In a cooperative effort between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state and tribal governments, the UIC Program works toward protecting underground sources of drinking water (USDW) from contamination by regulating the construction and operation of injection wells. Underground injection wells are primarily used to dispose of wastes into the subsurface and have the potential to adversely affect USDWs. Five classes of wells are defined according to the type of waste that is disposed and where the waste is injected. Detailed information on regulations can be found at EPA Regulations.

Region 8 States selector map Montana Contacts North Dakoka Contacts South Dakota Contacts Utah Contacts Wyoming Contacts Colorado Contacts

A brief description of the well types:

Class I: Industrial and Municipal Wells That Inject Beneath Lowermost USDW
Class II: Associated with Oil and Gas Production
Class III: Associated With Mineral Recovery
Class IV: Wells Injecting Hazardous Waste Into USDWs (Prohibited)
Class V: Injection Wells Not Included in Other Classes (typically Shallow Disposal Systems)

 

 

For more specific program information on the UIC program:

National UIC Program Homepage

Deep Injection Wells (Class I, II, III wells)

Shallow Waste Disposal System/Well (Class V wells)

UIC Reporting Forms (7520s)


News and Announcements:

You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

EPA Announces Approval of the Fort Peck Tribes' UIC Class II Injection WEll Program in Montana

On October 17, 2008, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson authorized the Assiniboine and Sioux (Fort Peck) Tribes to implement their own UIC Class II injection well program on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The Fort Peck Tribes are the first tribal government in the nation to receive UIC program authorization under the Safe Drinking Water Act.  This authorization will become effective on November 26, 2008, thereby allowing the Tribes to begin enforcing their own UIC regulations covering all Class II injection wells operating within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation. The Federal Register notice PDF and Fact Sheet PDF below summarize EPA's decision, provide instructions on how to access EPA’s documentation supporting this decision, and how to access all public comments received in response to EPA’s proposal to approve the Tribes’ UIC Class II program published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2008. You may also click here to go directly to the Federal Register notice and supporting documentation. This documentation is in general chronological order, with the most recent supporting documents at the bottom of the list. For further information please contact Douglas Minter at minter.douglas@epa.gov or by calling 1-800-227-8917 extension 312-6079 within EPA Region 8 or 303-312-6079 outside EPA Region 8.

Federal Register notice PDF (10 pp, 95.8K)
Fact Sheet PDF (2 pp, 32K)


Proposed Regulations on Geological Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide

EPA is seeking public comment until November 24, 2008 on its proposed regulations for the injection and storage of carbon dioxide into the subsurface. Written comments can be submitted through the www.regulations.gov website by selecting the yellow icon under "Add Comments" located next to the "PROPOSED RULES". Here you will also find additional supporting documentation for the proposed regulations. Additional information on the Background and the Regulatory Development can be found on the EPA headquarters website. For further information please contact Dan Jackson (jackson.dan@epa.gov, 303-312-6155) or Wendy Cheung (cheung.wendy@epa.gov, 303-312-6242).


Colorado Division of Wildlife Foothills Wildlife Health Laboratory

EPA seeks public comment on Class V Draft Permit for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Foothills Wildlife Health Laboratory located west of Fort Collins, Colorado on 4330 La Porte Avenue. Because a small volume of laboratory waste fluids are going into a septic system, that septic system is a Class V well under UIC regulations.

Class V Draft Permit PDF (23 pp, 6.6MB)
Statement of Basis PDF (18 pp, 331.4K)
Contents of Administration Record

Additional/Updated Documents

Class V 2nd Draft Permit PDF (20 pp, 181.3K)
Draft Permit Appendix A PDF (2 pp, 358.3K)
Draft Permit Appendix B PDF (26 pp, 4.6MB)
Draft Permit Appendix C PDF (4 pp, 90.4K)
Class V 2nd Statement of Basis PDF (16 pp, 179.7K)
Statement of Basis Figure 1 PDF (136.3K)
2005 CDOW UIC Class V Draft Permit response to comments PDF (139.6K)
edited 2005 CDOW UIC Class V Draft Permit Statement of Basis PDF (21 pp, 680.5K)


Class V Carbon Geologic Sequestration Pilot Project
EPA has released a guidance for Class V Geological Sequestration Pilot Projects in March 2007. For additional information, select a link below.

Class V Guidance Q & A
Class V Guidance on Experimental Well Technology PDF (23 pp, 450.3K)

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