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Fact Sheet
August 2008
Proposed Decision to Issue Final Permit, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Lakewood, Colorado (Columbus Junction, Iowa, facility)
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is proposing to issue an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit to the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Lakewood, Colorado, on September 15, 2008, under the authority of Part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 300h, et seq., and regulations at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 124, 144, 146, and 147. The permit would allow for the injection of fluids through a Class IID injection well at their storage fields located in Columbus Junction, Louisa County, Iowa. The injection of these fluids has been approved by the state of Iowa, but a federal permit is required to meet the provisions of the EPA-administered UIC program in Iowa.
Background
The Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America of Lakewood, Colorado, has requested an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit for the operation of a Class IID injection well at their facility located at the Cairo and Columbus City Storage Fields, Columbus Junction, Louisa County, Iowa. If issued, this permit would authorize the operation of the injection well by the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America as part of their natural gas storage operations at this site.
Natural gas is stored in the subsurface at this facility by injecting the gas into a system of gas injection/withdrawal wells in the Lower Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer of the Mount Simon Sandstone formation. These wells are typically drilled to depths of 2,500 feet and 2,700 feet below the surface. During this storage, a significant portion of the fluids (water) that naturally occur in the formation are displaced by the gas but some fluid still remains around the injection/withdrawal wells. When the natural gas is brought back to the surface, any of the fluids that are also brought to the surface must be removed prior to distribution.
In its permit application, the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America has proposed to gather the fluids generated during the removal of natural gas from storage, and then inject it back into the Lower Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer at an interval between 2,800 and 3,300 feet below the surface. The injection would occur in a portion of the aquifer that is deeper than where the natural gas is stored. This aquifer is not being used as a drinking water source, nor does it meet the current EPA criteria for a Drinking Water Aquifer.
The water injected will consist only of fluids that have been brought to the surface during the removal of the natural gas from the subsurface. Small amounts of organic and inorganic compounds are present in these fluids, but not at levels that are considered hazardous or that would be different from the existing subsurface fluid conditions. The injection of these fluids has been approved recently by the state of Iowa, but a federal permit is required to meet the provisions of the EPA-administered UIC program in Iowa.
As part of the permitting process, the applicant conducted a search to identify the locations of all known public or private wells within a quarter-mile radius of the proposed injection site, as required by the regulations. This search identified three active wells and one abandoned well within the area of review. Two of the active wells currently serve as drinking water supply wells for the facility and the third is an observation well for the natural gas storage operations at the site.
Due to the geologic conditions that exist between the proposed injection well and these three identified wells, the injection should not affect either the drinking water supply wells or the observation well. Additionally, the permit application outlines steps that will be taken by the applicant to ensure that the operation of the proposed injection well will not affect any wells located near the facility.
An additional search was conducted for wells located within a one-mile radius of the proposed injection site. This search only identified wells that are associated with the natural gas storage operations at the facility. There are no known active or abandoned water supply wells within one mile of the proposed injection well that penetrate the injection zone.
The application also identifies the depth of all the underground sources of drinking water above the injection zone. Underground sources of drinking water are defined by the UIC regulations as aquifers or portions thereof that are being used or could be used as drinking water sources. The proposed permit specifies a maximum injection rate and pressure that will prevent the movement of injection or formation fluids into any underground sources of drinking water above the injection zone, or into any zone outside of the injection interval specified in the permit application.
The proposed permit requires that the permittee, or their agent, operate the injection well as described in the permit and in a manner that will only allow the injection of fluids into the approved zone. Any modifications to these requirements are subject to EPA approval. The permit also includes additional conditions for the operation, monitoring, reporting and plugging of the injection well.
Opportunity for Public Comment
EPA is soliciting written comments on the Agency’s proposed decision to approve this petition. The public comment period opens August 1, 2008, and closes August 30, 2008.
Copies of the permit application, supporting documentation, and Administrative Record are available for public review between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following location:
UIC Program Office
Drinking Water Management Branch
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
If it is determined that there is a significant degree of public interest, based on requests, EPA will hold a formal public hearing. Any request for a public hearing must be in writing and must state the nature of the issues that the requestor proposes to raise at the hearing.
Where to Send Comments
All written comments regarding the proposed decision must be postmarked by August 30, 2008, and sent to:
Kurt Hildebrandt
Drinking Water Management Branch
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
A final decision to approve or deny the permit will be made after the close of the public comment period. EPA Region 7 will notify each person who submitted written comments of the final permit decision.
Additional Information
For more information, or to request copies of a more detailed fact sheet describing EPA’s basis for its proposed decision, please contact Kurt Hildebrandt at the mailing address above, or by phone or e-mail, as follows:
Toll-free: (800) 223-0425
E-mail: hildebrandt.kurt@epa.gov
