| What
is a Class V injection well? |
Class
V injection wells are typically shallow disposal systems that
are used to place a variety of fluids below the land surface.
Injection wells are regulated by EPA and the states through
the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program in order to
protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination. |
| Why
are Class V injection wells of concern? |
Class
V wells are a concern because they pose a risk to underground
sources of drinking water. Eighty-nine percent of America's
public water systems use ground water as a drinking water source.
EPA
estimates that there are more than 600,000 Class V injection
wells currently in the United States. Class V injection wells
are located in every state, especially in unsewered areas where
the population is also likely to depend on ground water for
its drinking water source. There are many types of Class V wells
including: motor vehicle waste disposal wells; large capacity
cesspools; storm water drainage wells; aquifer remediation wells;
and large capacity septic systems. The fluids released by certain
types of these wells have a high potential to contain elevated
concentrations of contaminants that may endanger drinking water. |
| Are
Class V injection wells currently regulated? |
Class
V injection wells are currently regulated by the UIC program,
under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Under the
existing federal regulations, Class V injection wells are "authorized
by rule" (40 CFR 144). This means that Class V injection wells
do not require a permit if they do not endanger underground
sources of drinking water and they comply with other UIC program
requirements.
These program requirements include: 1) submitting basic information
about Class V injection wells to EPA or the state primacy agency,
and 2) constructing, operating, and closing Class V injection
wells in a manner which protects underground sources of drinking
water. EPA or a state primacy agency may ask for additional
information or require a permit in order to ensure that ground
water quality is adequately protected. Further, many UIC primacy
state programs have additional prohibitions or permitting requirements
for certain types of Class V injection wells. |
| What
are the new regulatory requirements? |
These
new requirements protect public health and the environment by
eliminating or reducing injection of wastes from large capacity
cesspools and motor vehicle waste disposal wells.
Large-capacity
Cesspools
-
New cesspools are prohibited nationwide as of April 2000.
- Existing
cesspools will be phased out nationwide by April 2005.
Motor
Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells
- New
wells are prohibited nationwide as of April 2000.
- Existing
wells in regulated areas will be phased out (details below),
but owners and operators can seek a waiver and obtain a
permit. Permits must set out minimum requirements including:
1) meeting Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and other health
based standards at the point of injection, 2) monitoring
for injectate and sludge, and 3) implementing best management
practices, such as recycling and waste minimization.
|
| Where
are existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells being regulated? |
The
requirements for existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells
are being linked with State Source Water Assessment Programs.
States are conducting source water assessments as required by
the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The
Amendments require states to establish Source Water Assessment
Programs that, when complete, will: 1) delineate areas in the
state in which one or more public drinking water systems have
sources of drinking water; and 2) identify, to the extent practical,
the origins of regulated and certain unregulated contaminants
in the delineated area to determine the susceptibility of drinking
water systems to such contaminants.
The
new requirements will apply in ground water protection areas,
as identified by the state's assessment for community and non-transient
non-community water systems that use ground water.
The requirements will also apply in other areas that states
identify as sensitive ground water areas. These areas are critical
to protecting existing and future drinking water sources because
hydrogeologic conditions would allow contaminants to readily
migrate to drinking water sources. |
| What
are the compliance schedules for owners and operators in ground
water protection areas and other sensitive ground water areas? |
The
new requirements for existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells
will be phased-in over approximately seven years. The first
wells to be affected will be those located in ground water protection
areas.
Motor
vehicle waste disposal wells in Ground Water Protection Areas
- Owners
and operators in ground water protection areas must close
their well or obtain a permit within one year of completion
of the state's ground water protection assessment. States
could grant a one year extension under certain conditions.
- States
must complete the ground water protection assessments by
January 1, 2004. If they do not, three things could occur:
- The
rule would apply statewide, and owners and operators would
have until January 1, 2005, to close their wells or obtain
a permit.
- States
could apply to EPA for a one year extension to complete
their assessments. Owners and operators would have one
year from the completion of the ground water protection
assessment to close their well or obtain a permit.
- If
states get an extension and fail to complete their assessments,
the rule would apply statewide and owners and operators
would have until January 1, 2006, to close their wells
or obtain a permit.
Motor
vehicle waste disposal wells in Other Sensitive Ground Water
Areas
- States
must designate other sensitive ground water areas by January
1, 2004. Owners and operators of existing wells in these
sensitive ground water areas have until January 1, 2007,
to comply with the requirements.
- If
States do not designate sensitive ground water areas by
January 1, 2004, three things could occur:
- The
rule would apply statewide and owners and operators would
have until January 1, 2007, to close their wells or obtain
a permit.
-
States could apply to EPA for a one year extension to
complete the designation. Owners and operators in designated
sensitive ground water areas would have until January
2008 to close their well or obtain a permit.
- If
States get an extension and fail to complete their designation,
the rule would then apply statewide and owners and operators
would have until January 2008 to close their wells or
obtain a permit.
|
| How
do I get more information? |
The
Revisions to the Underground Injection Control Regulations for
Class V Injection Wells were signed on November 23, 1999. The
regulation appeared in the Federal Register on December 7, 1999, and is
also available on EPA's
website. To view the rule in its entirety
click here.(This is an Acrobat file.)
For
more information, call or email
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or Robyn
Delehanty at (202) 260-1993.
To find out information about your state's UIC and source water
assessment program, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
1-800-426-4791 to find out who to call in your state. |
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