Abstract: UIC Permitting Process for Class IID and Class III Wells: Protection of Drinking Water in New York State

Charles J. Hillenbrand

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region II, Underground injection Control (UIC) Program regulates injection wells in the State of New York to protect drinking water; UIC regulations can be found under Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Parts 124, 144, 146 and 147. Operators of solution mining injection wells (UIC Class IIIG) and produced fluid disposal wells (UIC Class IID) are required to obtain an UIC permit for authorization to inject. The permitting process requires submittal of drinking water, geologic and proposed operational data in order to assure that pressure build-up within the injection zone will not compromise confining layers and allow vertical migration of fluid into Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDW). Additional data is req ired within an Area of Review (AOR), defined as an area determined by the intersection of the adjusted potentiometric surface produced by injection and a depth 50 feet below the base of the lowermost USDW, or a radius of <fr>1</>4</fr> mile around the injection well, whichever is greater. Locations of all wells in the AOR must be identified, and completion reports and plugging reports must be submitted. Corrective action upon any conduit that would allow vertical migration of fluid into a USDW must be performed. Other permit requirements assure proper construction, mechanical integrity testing and proper plugging and abandonment of the well. Requirements are set for maximum injection pressure and flow rates, monitoring of brine properties of the injection well and monit ring of water supply wells in the AOR for possible contamination. Any noncompliance with permit requirements constitutes a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and is grounds for enforcement action, including possible revocation of permit. Presently four Class IID wells are authorized under permit in New York State. The Queenston sandstone, Medina sandstone, Salina B, Akron dolomite and Oriskany sandstone have been used for brine disposal; the lower Ordovician-Cambrian section is currently being considered as an injection zone. Over one hundred Class IIIG wells are authorized under permit in New York State and all have been utilized for solution mining of the Syracuse salt.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90954©1995 AAPG Eastern Section, Schenectady, New York