United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Drinking
Water (WH 550)
Washington, D.C. 2O460
NOVEMBER 1780
&EPA
UNDERGROUND
INJECTION
CONTROL PROGRAM
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
CFR 146
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INSTRUCTIONAL
MODULE
UNDERGROUND INJECTION
CONTROL PROGRAM
CFR 146 A
146 B
Ground Water Protection Branch
Office of Drinking Water
Environmental Protection Agency
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Introduction
CFR 146
These are the second and third of a series on the
Underground Injection Control Regulations. The
two booklets on CFR 146 have been written to help
you read the regulations. We have cut and pasted,
added the full text of some references, added some
comments, and some questions. Please feel free to
use this booklet any way that is helpful. The
questions are not intended to be a test, but
rather indicators of some important points. The
questions and answers are not official guidance
or policy.
There will be many questions raised by reading
CFR 146 that are not answered by this pamphlet.
Guidance is being developed on many issues raised
by the Regulations, and will be available in the
future. This pamphlet is an attempt to assist
with the first step, reading and digesting the
Regulations as promulgated.
December 1980
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Questions
146 Subpart A
1. Upon approval of a State UIC Program, any
underground injection not authorized by rule or by
permit is unlawful.
True False
2. An aquifer can never become an "exempted aquifer1
as long as it is serving as a drinking water source.
True False
3. If a well is used to inject hazardous waste, and
there is no USDW within 1/4 mile, it is a Class I well
True False
4. All wells injecting below the lowermost formation
containing a USDW witnin 1/4 mile of the well bore are
Class I wells.
True False
5. A conventional oil or natural gas production well
is a Class II well.
True False
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146 A
6. All wells identified as Class III must involve the
injection of fluids for extraction of minerals or
energy.
True False
7. A deep injection well used to dispose of waste
fluids in connection with a Class III well field is a
Class I well.
True False
8. A well used to inject return flow from a ground
water heat pump is a Class V well.
True False
9. Class IV wells all involve a USDW within 1/4 inile
of the well bore, in or below the injection zone.
True False
10. Some injection wells inay not be included inr any of
the five classes of wells.
True False
(146.06)
11. The zone of endangering influence is calculated for
the expected life of the injection well.
True False _ . _
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12. In no case will the Area of Review be greater than
1/4 mile.
True False
13. When a fixed radius is used, it must be no more
than 1/4 mile.
True False
14. When determining the adequacy of corrective action,
the Director should consider the toxicity of the
by-products of injection.
True False
15. Mechanical integrity is defined as no significant
leak in the casing, tubing or packer.
True False
16. Temperature or noise logs may be used to verify the
absence of significant fluid movement through vertical
channels adjacent to the well bore.
True False
17. The Director may allow other tests of mechanical
integrity at his discretion.
True False
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18. In setting priorities for issuing permits, the
Director must consider the factors in 146.09 (Criteria
for Establishing Permitting Priorities) but is free to
set priorities.
True false
19. Class I-III wells must be plugged in a manner which
will not allow the movement of fluids either into or
between USDW's.
True False
20. Static equilibrium refers to the absence of
electrolysis along the casing.
True False
146 B
21. Wells injecting into a formation which is beneath
the lowermost formation containing, within 1/4 mile of
the well bore, a LJSDW, and into a formation containing
a USDW more than 1/4 mile from the well bore are Class
I wells.
True False
22. Any well injecting hazardous waste is a Class I
well unless there is a USDW within 1/4 mile oZ th«j -./oil
bore, below or within the injection zone.
True False
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23. New Class I wells must be cased and cemented.
True False
24. All Class I wells shall inject through tuoing with
a packer set immediately above the injection zone, or
tubing with an approved fluid seal.
True False
25. The Director may approve the use of other
alternatives to a packer with the written permission of
the Administrator.
True False
26. Deviation checks are not required for all Class I
wells.
True False
27. Before surface casing is installed, a ceiaent bond,
temperature, and caliper logs shall be conducted.
True False
28. Fracture finder logs may be run either before or
after the long string is installed.
True False
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29. The temperature in the injection formation must be
determined or calculated.
True False
(146.13)
30. Class I wells may not be operated at a pressure
that initiates new fractures or propagates existing
fractures in the injection zone.
True False
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Page
42500
Subpart A—Genera! Provisions
§ 146.01 Applicability and scope.
(a) This Part sets forth technical
criteria and standards for the
Underground Injection Control Program.
This part should be read in conjunction
with 40 CFR Parts 122. 123 and 124
which also apply to UIC programs. 40
CFR Part 122 defines the regulatory
framework of EPA administered permit
programs. 40 CFR Part 123 describes the
elements of an approvable State
program and procedures for EPA
approval of State participation in the
permit programs. 40 CFR Part 124
describes the procedures the Agency
will use for issuing permits under the
, covered programs. Certain of these
procedures will also apply to State-
administered programs as specified in 40
CFR Part 123.
(b) Upon the approval, partial
approval or promulgation of a State UIC
program by the Administrator, any
underground injection which is not
authorized by the Director by rule or by
permit is unlawful.
42501 § 146.02 Law authorizing these
regulations.
The laws authorizing these regulation;
and all other UIC program regulations
are referenced in 40 CFR part 122. They
include Sections 1421,1422,1423,1431,
1445, 1447 and 1450 of the Publu; Health
Service Act as amended by the Safe
Drinking Water Act ("SOWA") (Pub. L.
93-523) and by the SDWA Amendments
of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-190).
§ 146.03 Definitions.
The following definitions apply to the
underground injection control program.
Abandoned well means a well whose
use has been permanently discontinued
122 Permit Programs
123 State Program
124 Procedures for
Permits
Injection not
authorized is
unlawful
Abandoned - No use
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Page
42501
or which is in a state of disrepair such
that it cannot be used for its intended
purpose or for observation purposes.
Administrator means the
Administrator of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, or an
authorized representative.
Application means the EPA standard
national forms for applying for a permit.
including any additions, revisions or
modifications to the forms; or forms
approved by EPA for use in approved
States, including any approved
modifications or revisions. For RCRA,
application also includes the
information required by the Director
under § 122.25 (contents of Part B of the
RCRA application).
Aquifer means a geological formation.
group of formations, or part of a
formation that is capable of yielding a
significant amount of water to a well or
spring.
Area of review means the area
surrounding an "injection well"
described according to the criteria set
forth in § 146.06.
Casing means a heavy metal (steel or
iron) pipe or tubing of varying diameter
and weight, lowered into a borehole
during or after drilling in order to
support the sides of the hole and thus
prevent the walls from caving, to
prevent loss of drilling mud into porous
ground, or to prevent water, gas, or
other fluid from entering the hole.
Catastrophic collapse means the
sudden and utter failure of overlying
"strata" caused by removal of
underlying materials.
Cementing means the operation
whereby a cement slurry is pumped into
a drilled hole and/or forced behind the
casing.
Confining bed means a body of
Capable of yielding
significant
Area of review
p. 42503
Casing may ue
nonnetallic
Also "Grouting"
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Page
42501
impermeable or distinctly less
permeable material stratigraphically
adjacent to one or more aquifers.
Confining zone means a geological
formation, group of formations, or part
of a formation that is capable of limiting
fluid movement above an injection zone.
Contaminant means any physical,
chemical, biological, or radiological
substance or matter in water.
Director means the Regional
Administrator or the State Director, as
the context requires, or an authorized
representative. When there is no
approved State program, and there is an
EPA administered program, "Director"
means the Regional Administrator.
When there is an approved State
program, "Director" normally means the
State Director. In some circumstances,
however, EPA retains the authority to
take certain actions even where there is
an approved State program. (For
example, when EPA issued an NPDES
permit prior to the approval of a State
program, EPA may retain jurisdiction
over that permit after program approval,
see § 123.89.) In such cases, the term
"Director" means the Regional
Administrator and not the State
Director.
Disposal well means a well used for
the disposal of waste into a subsurface
stratum.
Effective date of a UIC program
means the date that a State UIC
program is approved or established by
the Administrator.
Environmental Protection
("EPA") means the United States
Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA means the United States
"Environmental Protection Agency."
Exempted acquifer means an aquifer
or its portion that meets the criteria in
identification of USDW's
and exempted aquifers
p. 33437
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Page
42501
the definition of "underground source of
drinking water" but which has been
exempted according to the procedures of
§ 122.35fb).
Existing injection well means an
"injection well" other than a "new
injection well."
Facility or activity means any "HWM
facility," UIC "injection well," NPDES
"point source," or State 404 dredge and
fill activity, or any other facility or
activity (including land or
appurtenances thereto) that is subject to
regulation under the RCRA, UIC,
NPDES, or 404 programs.
Fault means a surface or zone of rock
fracture along which there has been
displacement.
Flow rate means the volume per time
unit given to the flow of gases or other
fluid substance which emerges from an
orifice, pump, turbine or passes along a
conduit or channel.
Fluid means material or-substance
which flows or moves whether in a
semisolid, liquid sludge, gas, or any
other form or state.
Formation means a body of rock
characterized by a degree of lithologic
homogeneity which is prevailingly, but
not necessarily, tabular and is mappable
on the earth's surface or traceable in the
subsurface.
Formation fluid means "fluid" present
in a "formation" under natural
conditions as opposed to introduced
fluids, such as drilling mud.
Generator means any person, by site
location, whose act or process produces
hazardous waste identified or listed in
40 CFR Part 261.
Ground water means water below the
land surface in a zone of saturation.
Hazardous waste means a hazardous
waste as denned in 40 CFR 261.3.
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Page
42501
Hazardous 11 liste Management
facility ("HWM facility") means all
contiguous land, and structures, other
appurtenances, and improvements on
the land used for treating, storing, or
disposing of hazardous waste. A facility
may consist of several treatmrp'
storage, or disposal operational units
(for example, one or more landfills,
surface impoundments, or combination
of them).
HWM facility means "Hazardous
Waste Management facility."
Injection well means a "well" into
which "fluids" are being injected.
Injection zone means a geological
"formation", group of formations, or part
of a formation receiving fluids through a
well.
Lithology means the description of
rocks on the basis of their physical and
chemical characteristics.
Owner or operator moans the owner
or operator of any facility or activity
subject to regulation under the RCRA,
UIC, NPDES, or 404 programs.
Packer means a device lowered into a
well which can be expanded to produce
a water-tight seal.
Permit means an authorization,
license, or equivalent control document
issued by EPA or an "approved State" to
implement the requirements of this part
and Parts 122,123 and 124. Permit does
not include RCRA interim status
(§ 122.23), UIC authorization by rule
{§ 122.37), or any permit which has not
yet been the subject of final agency
action, such as a "draft permit" or "a
"proposed permit."
Plugging means the act or process of
stopping the flow of water, oil. or gas in
"formations" penetrated by a borehole
or "well."
Plugging record means a systematic
listing of permanent or temporary
122.23 Interim status
p. 33434
122.37 Authorization
of underground injection
by rule p. 33438
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Page
4 / D U1 abandonment of water, oil, gas, test,
exploration and waste injection wells,
and may contain a well log, description
of amounts and types of plugging
material used, the method employed for
plugging, a description of formations
which, are sealed and a graphic log of
the well showing formation location,
42502 formation thickness, and location of
plugging structures.
Pressure means the total load or force
per unit area acting on a surface.
Radioactive Waste means any waste
which contains radioactive material in
concentrations which exceed those
listed in 10 CFR Part 20, Appendix B,
Table n, Column 2, or exceed the
"Criteria for Identifying and Applying
Characteristics of Hazardous Waste and
for Listing Hazardous Waste" in 40 CFR
Part 261, whichever is applicable.
RCRA means the Solid Waste
Disposal Act as amended by the
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-580, as amended
by Pub. L. 95-609, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
SDWA means the Safe Drinking
Water Act (Pub. L. 95-523, as amended „
by Pub. L. 95-190, 42 U.S.C. 300(f) et
seq.).
Site means the land or water area
, where any facility or activity is
physically located or conducted,
including adjacent land used in
connection with the facility or activity.
Sole or principal source acquifer
means an aquifer which has been
designated by the Administrator
pursuant to sections 1424 (a) or (e) of the
SDWA.
State Director means the chief
administrative officer of any State or
interstate agency operating an approved
program, or the delegated representative
of the State Director. If responsibility is
divided among two or more State or
interstate agencies, "State Director"
means the chief administrative officer of
the Slate or interstate agency authorized
to perform the particular procedure or
function to which reference is made.
Stratum (plural strata] means-a single
sedimentary bed or layer, regardless of
thickness, that consists of generally the
same kind of rock material.
Subsidence means the lowering of the
natural land surface in response to:
Earth movements; lowering of fluid
pressure; removal of underlying
supporting material by mining or
solution of solids, either artificially or
from natural causes; compaction due to
wetting (Hydrocompaction); oxidation of
organic matter in soils; or added load on
the land surface.
Surface casing means the first string
of well casing to be installed in the well
Total dissolved solids ('TDS") means
the total dissolved (filterable) solids as
determined by use of the method
specified in 40 CFR Part 136.
UIC means the Underground Injection
Control program under Part C of the
Safe Drinking Water Act, including an
"approved program."
Underground injection means a "well
injection."
Underground source of drinking water
("USDW") means an "aquifer" or its
portion:
(l}(i) Which supplies drinking water
for human consumption; or
(ii) In which the ground water
contains fewer than 10,000 mg/1 "total
dissolved solids;" and
(2) Which is not an "exempted
aquifer."
USD W means "underground source of
drinking water."
Well means a bored, drilled or driven
shaft, or a dug hole, whose depth is
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Page
42502 greater than the largest surface
dimension.
Well injection means the subsurface
emplacement of fluids through a bored,
drilled or driven well; or through a dug
well, where the depth of the dug well is
greater than the largest surface
dimension.
Well log means a log obtained from a
well, showing such information as
resistivity, radioactivity, spontaneous
potential, and acoustic velocity as a
function of depth.
Well plug means a watertight and
gaslight seal installed in a borehole or
well to prevent movement of fluids.
Well record means a concise
statement of the available data
regarding a well, such as a scout ticket;
a full history or day-by-day account of a
well, from the day the well was
surveyed to the day production ceased.
Well stimulation means several
processes used to clean the well bore,
enlarge channels, and increase pore
space in the interval to be injected thus
making it possible for wastewater to
move more readily into the formation,
and includes (1) surging, (2) jetting, (3)
blasting, (4) acidizing, (5) hydraulic
fracturing.
Well monitoring means the
measurement, by on-site instruments or
laboratory methods, of the quality of
water in a well.
§ 146.04 Criteria for exempted aquifers. See 122.35 (P. 33437)
An aquifer or a portion thereof which
meets the criteria for an "underground
source of drinking water" in § 146.03
may be determined under 40 CFR 122.35
to be an "exempted aquifer" if it meets
the following criteria:
(a) It does not currently serve as a
source of drinking water; and
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42502
(b) It cannot now and will not in the
future serve as a source of drinking
water because:
(1) It is mineral, hydrocarbon or
geotheTmalenergy producing;
lUnnTsTfuaTecTat a depth or location
which makes recovery of water for
drinking water purposes economically
or technologically impractical;
(3) It is so contaminated that it would
be economically ot technologically
impractical to render that water fit for
human consumption; or
(4) It is located over a Class in well
mining area subject to subsidence or
catastrophic collapse.
§ 146.05 Classification of Injection wells.
Injection wells are classified as
follows:
(a) Class I. (1) Wells used by
generators of Jjgga(£dmis^istes< or
owners or operatorsoinazaraous waste
management facilities to inject
hazardous waste, other than Class IV
wells.
(2) Other industrial and municipal
disposal wells which inject fluids
beneath the lowermost formation
containing, within one quarter mile of
the well bore, an underground source of
drinking water.
(b) Class II. Wells which inject fluids:
(1) Which are brought to the surface in
connection with conventional oil or
natural gas production:
(2) For enhanced recovery of oil or
natural gas: and
(3) For storage of hydrocarbons which
are liquid at standard temperature and
pressure.
(c) Class III. Wells which inject for
extraction of minerals or energy,
including:
(1) Mining of sulfur by the Frasch
process;
Note: Heed not be in
connection with USDW
Generators
Management Facilities
Not Class IV
Enhanced recovery
Storage
Sulfer
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Page
4 / bU 2. j2) Solution mining of minerals;
Note.—Solution mining of minerals
includes sodium chloride, potash, phosphate,
copper, uranium and any other mineral which
can be mined by this process.
[3] in-situ combustion of fossil fuel:
and
Note.—Fossil fuels includes coal, tar sands,
oil shale and any other fossil fuel which can
be mined by this process.
(4) recovery of geothermal energy to
produce electric power.
Note.—Class III wells include the recovery
of geothermal energ'fy to produce electric
power but do not include wells used in
heating or aquaculture which fall under Class
V.
(d) Class IV. Wells used by generators
of hazardous wastes or of radioactive
wastes, by owners or operators of
hazardous waste management facilities,
or by owners or operators of rjUJiga^Jivj',
waste disposal sites to dispose of
hazardous wastes or jajjjgactjve wastes
into or above a formationwmcri within
one quarter mile of the well contains an
underground source of drinking water.
(e) Class V. Injection wells not
included in Class I, II, III, or IV.
Note.—Class V wells includes:
42503 M Air conditioning return flow wells used
to return to the supply a_quifer the water used
for heating or cooling in a heat pump;
(2) Cesspools or other devices that receive
wastes, which have an open bottom and
sometimes have perforated sides, i he UIC
requirements do not apply to single'family
residential cesspools;
(3) Cooling water return flow wells used to
inject water previously used for cooling;
(4) Drainage wells used to drain surface
fluid, primarily storm runoff, into a
subsurface formation;
(5) Dry wells used for the injection of
wastes into a subsurface formation;
(6) Recharge weils used to replenish the
water in an aquifer
Minerals
In-situ combustion
Geothermal -
e.g. electric
Generators
Management
"Radioactive" now
reserved.
INTO OR ABOVE
1/4 mile - USDW
Not single family
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42503
(7) Salt water intrusion barrier wells used
to inject water into a fresh water aquifer to
prevent the intrusion of salt water into the
fresh water;
(8) Sand backfill wells used to inject a
mixture of water and sand, mill tailings or
other solids into mined out portions of
subsurface mines;
(9) Septic system wells used:
(i) To' inject the waste or effluent from a
multiple dwelling, business establishment,
community or regional business
establishment septic tank; or
(ii) For a multiple dwelling, community or
regional cesspool. The UIC requirements do
not apply to single family residential waste
disposal systems;
(10) Subsidence control wells (not used for
the purpose of oil or natural gas production)
used to inject fluids into a non-oil or gas
producing zone to reduce or eliminate
subsidence associated with the overdraft of
fresh water;
(11) Wells used for the storage of
hydrocarbons which are gases at standard
temperature and pressure;
(12) Geothermal wells used in heating and
aquaculture;
(13) Nuclear disposal wells.
§ 146.06 Area of Review.
The area of review for each injection
well or each field, project or area of the
State shall be determined according to
jjjjjjwparagraph (a) or (b) of this
section. The Director may solicit input
from the owners or operators of
injection wells within the State as to
which method is most appropriate for
each geographic area or field.
(a) Zone of endangering influence.
The zone of endangering influence shall
be that area the radius of which is the
lateral distance from an injection well,
field or project in which the pressures in
the injection zone may cause the
migration of the injection and/or
formation fluid into an underground
(ii) Not single family
Gas Storage
(13) Nuclear reserved
"Either"
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42503
source of drinking water. Computation
of the zone of endangering influence
may be based upon the parameters
listed below and should be calculated
for an injection time period equal to the
expectedlife of the injection well or
patTern^nie"following modified Theis
equation illustrates one form which the
mathematical model m,. t take.
Expected life
42504
r=
where:
X=
•2.25 K H t
S 10*
4 -n KH I hw - hbo x SpGb
2.3 Q
c = Radius of endangering influence from injection well
(length)
K = Hydraulic conductivity of the injection zone
(length/time)
a = Thickness of the injection zone (length)
t Time o£ injection (time)
S Storage coefficient (dimensionless)
Q Injection rate (volurae/time)
hb0 Observed original hydrostatic head of injection
none (length) measured from the base of the lowest
andergrou.-.J sojrce of drinking water
hw Hydrostatic head of underground source of
drinking water (length) measured from tne
base of the lowest underground source of drinking
water
5pGb Specific gravity of fluid in the injection zone
(dirr.ensionless )
-q 3.142 (dimensionless).
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42505
The above equation is based on the
following assumptions:
(1) The injection zone is homogenous
and isotropic;
(2] The injection zone has infinite
areal extent;
(3) The injection well penetrates the
entire thickness of the injection zone;
(4) The well diameter is infinitesimal
compared to "r" when injection time is
longer than a few minutes; and
(5) The emplacement of fluid into the
injection zone creates instantaneous
increase in pressure.
Other models may be used as
appropriate for different situations
encountered in the field or where the
model assumptions match more closely
those situations.
(b) Fixed Radius. A fixed radius
around the well, field or project of not
less than one-fourth (V*) mile may be
used. In determining the fixed radius,
the following factors shall be taken into
consideration: Chemistry of injected and
formation fluids; hydrogeology;
population and ground-water use and
dependence; and historical practices in
the area.
(c) If the area of review is determined
by a mathematical model pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this section, the
permissible radius is the result of such
calculation even if it is less than one-
fourth (y
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Page
42505 jaj TOxicity and volume of the
injected fluid;
(b) Toxicity of native fluids or by-
products of injection;
[c) Potentially affected population;
(d) Geology;
(e) Hydrology;
(f) History of the injection operation;
(g) Completion and plugging records;
(h) Abandonment procedures in effect
at the time the well was abandoned; and
(i) Hydraulic connections with
underground sources of drinking water.
§ 146.08 Mechanical Integrity
(a) Airinjection well has mechanical
integrity if:
(1) There is no significant leak in the
casing, tubing or packer; and
(2) There is no significant fluid
movement into an underground source
of drinking water through vertical
channels adjacent to the injection well
bore.
(b) One of the following tests must be
used to evaluate the absence of
significant leaks under paragraph (a)(l)
of this section.
(1) Monitoring of annulus pressure; or
(2) Pressure test with liquid or gas.
(c) One of the following methods must
be used to determine the absence of
significant fluid movement under
paragraph (a){2) of this section:
(1) For Class II only, well records
demonstrating the presence of adequate
cement to prevent such migration; or
(2) The results of a temperature or
noise log.
(d) The Director may allow the use of
a test to demonstrate mechanical
integrity other than those listed in
paragraphs (b) and (c)(2) of this section
with the written approval of the
Administrator. To obtain approval, the
Native Fluids
(Formation Fluids)
and by-products
1) Casing, Tubing,
Packer
2 ) Movement -
vertical channels
Annulus pressure
Pressure test
Class II - Well records
Tenperature/Noise Log
Other Test: Written
Approval
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42505
Director shall submit a written request
to the Administrator, which shall set
forth the proposed test and all technical
data supporting its use. The
Administrator shall approve the request
if it will reliably demonstrate the
mechanical integrity of wells for which
its use is proposed. Any alternate
method approved by the Administrator
shall be published in the Federal
Register and may be used in all States
unless its use is restricted at the time of
approval by the Administrator.
(e) In conducting and evaluating the
tests enumerated in this section or
others to be allowed by the Director, the
owner or operator and the Director shall
apply methods and standards generally
accepted in the industry. When the
owner or operator reports the results of
mechanical integrity tests to the
Director, he shall include a description
of the test(s) and the method(s) used. In
making his/her evaluation, the Director
shall review monitoring and other test
data submitted since the previous
evaluation.
§ 146.09 Criteria for Establishing
Permitting Priorities.
In determining priorities for setting
times for owners or operators to submit
applications for authorization to inject
under the procedures of § 122.38 or
§ 123.4(g), the Director shall base these
priorities upon consideration of the
following factors:
(a) Injection wells known or suspected
to be contaminating underground
sources of drinking water;
(b) Injection wells known to be
injecting fluids containing hazardous
contaminants;
(c) Likelihood of contamination of
underground sources of drinking water;
(d) Potentially affected population;
Federal Register
"Use" - All States -
Unless restricted
Application for a Permit
p. 33439
Program Description
p. 33457
(a) Contaminating
(b) Hazardous
(c) Likelihood
(d) Population
Note: Not necessarily
in order of priority
-21-
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Page
42505
(e) Injection wells violating existing
State requirements;
(f) Coordination with the issuance of
permits required by other State or
Federal permit programs;
(g) Age and depth of the injection
well; and
(h) Expiration dates of existing State
permits, if any.
§ 146.10 Plugging and Abandoning Class
MM Wells.
(a) Prior to abandoning Class I-III
wells the well shall be plugged with
cement in ajnanher which will not
allow the movement of fluids either into
or between underground sources of
drinking water.
(b) Placement of the cement plugs
shall be accomplished by one of the
following:
(1) The Balance Method;
(2) The Dump Bailer Method; or
(3) The Two-Plug Method.
(c) The well to be abandoned shall be
in a state of static equilibrium with the
mud weight equalized top to bottom,
either by circulating the mud in the well
at least once or by a comparable method
prescribed by the Director, prior to the
placement of the cement plugls).
(d) The plugging and abandonment
plan required in 40 CFR 122.42(f) and
122.41(e) shall, in the case of a Class ID
well field which underlies or is in an
aquifer which has been exempted under
40 CFR 146.04, also demonstrate that no
movement of contaminants from the
mined zone into an underground source
of drinking water will occur. The
Director shall prescribe aquifer cleanup
and monitoring where he deems it
necessary and feasible to insure that no
migration of contaminants from the
mined zone into an underground source
of drinking water will occur.
Cement
Not allow movement
into or between
3 methods specified
Static equilibrium
Permit Conditions
Additional Conditions
Class III - Exempted
aquifer, "overlies or in"
Demonstrate "no migration"
Criteria for exempted
aquifers p. 42502
Aquif-ar cleanup and
monitoring
-22-
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Page
33424
§ 122.4 Application for a permit
(Applicable to State programs, see
§ 123.7.)
(a) Permit application. Any person
who is required to have a permit
(including new applicants and
permittees with expiring permits) shall
complete, sign, and submit an
application to the Director as described
in this section and in-§
122,38 (UIC),
Persons currently authorized with
interim status under
UIC authorization by rule (§ 122.37)
shall apply for permits when required by
the Director. Procedures
for applications, issuance and
administration of emergency permits are
found exclusively in §
122.40 (UIC),
(b) Who applies? When a facility or
activity is owned by one person but is
operated by another person, it is the
operator's duty to obtain a permit,
(c) Completeness. The Director shall
not issue a permit under a program
before receiving a complete application
fora^permit under that program
An application for a permit
under a program is complete when the
Director receives an application form
and any supplemental information
which are completed to his or her
satisfaction. The completeness of any
application for a permit shall be judged
independently of the status of any other
permit application or permit for the
same facility or activity. For ERA^_
administered UIC,
programs, an application which is
reviewed under § 124.3 is complete
when the Director receives either a
complete application or the information
listed in a notice of deficiency.
(d) Information requirements. All
applicants for UIC,
permits (for State 404 permits see
§ 123.94) shall provide the following
information to the Director, using the
application form provided by the
Director (additional information
required of applicants is set forth in
122.38
(UIC),
(1) The activities conducted by the
applicant which require it to obtain
permits under RCRA, UIC, NPDES, or
PSD.
(2) Name, mailing address, and
location of the facility for which the
application is submitted.
(3) Up to four SIC codes which best
reflect the principal products or services
provided by the facility.
(4) The operator's name, address,
telephone number, ownership status,
and status as Federal. State, private,
public, or olher entity.
(5) Whether the facility is located on
Indian lands.
f6) A listing of all permits or
construction approvals received or
applied for under any of the following
programs:
fii) UIC program under SDWA.
(7) A topographic map (or other map if
a topographic map is unavailable)
extending one mile beyond the property
boundaries of the source, depicting the
facility and each of its intake and
discharge structures; each of its
hazardous waste treatment storage, or
-23-
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Page
33424
disposal facilities; each well where
fluids from the facility are injected
underground; and those wells, springs,
other surface water bodies, and drinking
water wells listed in public records or
otherwise known to tie applicant in the
map area.
(8) A brief description of the nature of
the business.
(e) Recordkeeping. Applicants shall
keep records of all data used to
complete permit applications and any
supplemental information submitted
under § 122.38 (UIC);
•for a period of at least 3
years froro'the date the application is
signed.
Page §122.38 Application tor a permit;
authorization by permit.
33439 (Applicable to State UIC programs,,
see § 123.7.)
(a) Permit application. Except as
provided in $ 122.37 [authorization by
rule), all underground injections into
Class I* H. or m wells in listed States
shall be prohibited unless authorized by
permit. Those authorized by a rule under
§ 122.37 must still apply for a permit
under this section unless authorization
by rule was for the life of the well. Rules
authorizing well injections for which
permit applications have been submitted
shall lapse for a particular well injection
only upon the effective date of tte
permit or permit denial for that well
injection.
. (b) Time to appfy. Any person who
performs or proposes an underground
injection for which a permit is or will be
required shall submit an application to
the Director in accordance with the
State UIC program as follows:
(1) For existing injection wells, as
expeditiously as practicable and in
accordance with the schedule contained
in any program description under
§ 123.4(g), but? no later than 4 years from
the approval of the UIC program, or as
required under § 122.45(b) for wells
injecting hazardous waste.
(2) For new injection wells, except
new wells covered by an existing area
permit under § 122.39(c), a reasonable
time before contraction is expected to
begin. (See also & 122.41 (b)).
(c) Contents of UIC application.
[Reserved.]
-24-
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146 B
31. Injection between the outermost casing protecting
USDWs and the well bore is prohibited.
True False
32. Pressure shall be maintained on the annulus.
True False
33. Injected fluids must be analyzed at least once a
week.
True False
34. Continuous recording devices are required to
monitor injection pressure, flow rate, volume and
annulus pressure.
True False
35. Mechanical integrity must be demonstrated at least
once every five years.
True False
36. Pressure in the underground sources of drinking
water within the area of review must be monitored only
when required Section 146.13(b)(4).
True False
-25-
-------
146 B
37. Reporting must be done quarterly.
True False
38. Any well work-over must be reported within thirty
days after completion.
True False
(146.14)
39. The Director may disregard any wells in the area of
review which do not penetrate the injection zone.
True False
40. The Director may allow a stimulation program for a
Class I well.
True False
41. The Director may not allow tiie operation of a Class
I well until corrective action has been conpleted on
defective wells in the area of review.
True False
(146.15)
42. As part of the mid-course evaluation, the Director
is not required to report concerning Class I wells
authorized by rule.
True False
-26-
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Page
42505
42506
Subpart B—Criteria and Standards
Applicable to Class I Wells
§146.11 Applicability.
This subpart establishes criteria and
standards for underground injection
control programs to regulate Class I
wells.
§ 146.12 Construction Requirements.
(a) All Class I wells shall be sited in
such a fashion that they inject into a
formation which is beneath the
lowermost formation containing, within
one quarter mile of the well bore, an
underground source of drinking water.
(b) All Class I wells shall be cased
and cemented to prevent the movement
of fluids into or between underground
sources of drinking water. The casing
and cement used in the construction of
each newly drilled well shall be
designed for the life expectancy of the
well. In determining and specifying
casing and cementing requirements, the
following factors shall be considered:
(1) Depth to the injection zone;
(2) Injection pressure, external
pressure, internal pressure, and axial
loading;
(3) Hole size;
(4) Size and grade of all casing strings
(wall thickness, diameter, nominal
weight, length, joint specification, and
construction material);
(5) Corrosiveness of injected fluid,
formation fluids, and temperatures;
(6) Lithology of injection and confining
intervals; and
(7) Type or grade of cement.
(c) All Class I injection wells, e^ccegt
those municipal wells injecting Jifln^
stes, shall inject fluids
Beneath lowest USDW
within 1/4 mile of well
bore
Cased and cemented
Life of Well
i tubing with a packer set
immediately above the injection zone, or
Corrosiveness
Except
Tubing and Packer
-27-
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Page
42506
tubing with an approved fluid seal as an
alternative. The tubing, packer, and fluid
seal shall be designed for the expected
service.
(1) The use of other alternatives to a
packer may be allowed with the written
approval of the Director. To obtain
approval, the operator shall submit a
written request to the Director, which
shall set forth the proposed alternative
and all technical data supporting its use.
The Director shall approve the request if
the alternative method will reliably
provide a comparablejevel of protection
to undei^ovmasourcesoTarinking
water. The Director may approve an
alternative method solely for an
individual well or for general use.
(2) In determining and specifying
requirements for tubing, packer, or
alternatives the following factors shall
be considered:
(i) Depth of setting;
(ii) Characteristics of injection fluid
(chemical content, corrosiveness. and
density):
(iii) Injection pressure;
(iv) Annular pressure;
(v) Rate, temperature and volume of
injected fluid; and
(vi) Size of casing.
(d) Appropriate logs and other tests
shall be conducted during the drilling
and construction of new Class I wells. A
descriptive report interpreting the
results of such logs anci tests shall be
prepared by a qualified log analyst and
submitted to the Director. At a
minimum, such logs and tests shall
include:
(1) Deviation checks on all holes
constructed by first drilling a pilot hole,
and then enlarging the pilot hole by
reaming or another method. Such checks
shall be at sufficiently frequent intervals
to assure that vertical avenues for fluid
Fluid seal
Alternatives
Written request
Shall approve
Logs and Tests
Pilot hole
-28-
-------
Page
42506
migration in Ihe form of diverging holes
are not created during drilling.
{2) Such other logs and tests as may
be needed after taking into account the
availability of similar data in the area of
the drilling site, the construction plan,
and the need for additional information,
that may arise from time to time as the
construction of the well progresses. In
determining which logs and tests shall
be required, the following logs shallbe
considered for use in the following™"1"
situations:
(i) For gurfgge^gasing intended to
protect undergroundsources of drinking
water
(A) Resistivity, spontaneous potential,
and caliper logs before the casing is
installed; and
(B) A cement bond, temperature, or
density log after the casing is set and
cemented.
(ii) For ujjgrmgdja^e and Jpjj^itjinM
of casing mtendedtoiacilitate injection:
(A) Resistivity, spontaneous potential,
porosity, and gamma ray logs before the
casing is installed;
(B) Fracture finder logs; and
(C) A cement bond, temperature, or
density log after the casing is set and
cemented.
(e) At a minimum, the following
information concerning the injection
formation shall be determined or
calculated for new Class I wells:
(1) Fluid pressure;
(2) Temperature;
(3) Fracture pressure;
(4) Other physical and chemical
characteristics of the injection matrix;
and
(5) Physical and chemical
characteristics of the formation fluids.
Considered
Injection Formation
Determined or calculated
Matrix
Fluids
-29-
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Page
42506
§ 146.13 Operating, Monitoring and
Reporting Requirements.
(a) Operating Requirements.
Operating requirements shall, at a
minimum, specify that:
(1) Injection pressure at the wellhead
shall not exceed a maximum which shall
be calculated so as to assure that the
pressure in the injection zone during
injection does not initiate ngwfractu^es
or Dropagat^ existing fracturesirrth'e™~
injecfionzone, initiate fractures in the
gonfjnjng zone or cause the movement
of injection or formation fluids into an
underground source of drmlung water.
(2) Injection between the ou^grjnost
Basing protecting underground sources
TJT(!rmking water and the well bore is
prohibited.
(3) Unless an alternative to a packer
has been approved under § 146.12{c), the
annulus between the tubing and the long
string of casings shall be filled with a
fluid approved by the Director and a
pressure, also approved by the Director,
shall be maintained on the annulus.
(b) Monitoring Requirements.
Monitoring requirements shall, at a
minimum, include:
(1) The analysis of the j^
with sufficient frequency
representative data of their
characteristics;
(2) Installation and use of continuouj
recording devices to monitorTnjeclion"
pressure, flow rate and volume, and the
pressure on the annulus between the
rucTng^md the longTIfTng of casing;
(3) A demonstration of mechanical
integrity pursuant to § 146.08 at least
once every fjvejears during the life of
the well; and
(4] The type, number and location of
wells within the area of review to be
used to monitor any migration of fluids
Operating Pressure
Injection zone
Confining zone
Formation Fluids
Annulus Fluid
Pressure
Injected Fluids
Sufficient Frequency
Continuous Recording
Mechanical Integrity
Monitoring Wells
-30-
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Page
42506
into and pressure in the
Pressure in USDW
parameierstoDemeasured and the
frequency of monitoring.
(c) Reporting Requirements. Reporting
requirements shall, at a minimum,
include:
(1) Quarterly reports to the Director
on:
(i) The physical, chemical and other
relevant characteristics of injection
fluids;
(ii) Monthly average, maximum and
minimum values for injection pressure,
flow rate and volume, and annular
pressure; and
(iii) The results of monitoring
prescribed under subparagraph (b)(4) of
this section.
(2) Reporting the results, with the first
quarterly report after the completion, of:
(i) Periodic tests of mechanical
integrity;
(ii) Any other test of the injection well
conducted by the permittee if required
by the Director; and
(iii) Any well work over.
§ 146.14 Information to be Considered by
the Director.
This section sets forth the information
which must be considered by the
Director in authorizing Class I wells. For
an existing or converted new Class I
well the Director may rely on the
existing permit file for those items of
information listed below which are
current and accurate in the file. For a
newly drilled Class I well, the Director
shall require the submission of all the
information listed below. For both
existing and new Class I wells certain
maps, cross-sections, tabulations of
wells within the area of review and
other data may be included in the
application by reference provided they
are current, readily available to the
Director (for example, in the permitting
-31-
Quarterly
Injection Fluids
Pressure, rate, volume
First quarterly report
Mechanical integrity
Workover
Considered
Existing file
Reference
-------
Page
42507
agency's files) and sufficiently identified
to be retrieved. In cases where EPA
issues the permit all the information in
this Section must be submitted to the
Administrator.
(a) Prior to the issuance of a permit for
an existing Class I well to operate or the
cjjjia^mjjjon or cjjjjy^jgjfl^of a new
Class I well the Directorsnall consider
the following:
(1) Information required in 40 CFR
122.4 and 122.38(c);
(2) A map showing the injection
well(s) for which a permit is sought and
the applicable area of review. Within
the area of review, the map must show
the number, or name, and location of all
producing wells, injection wells,
abandoned wells, dry holes, surface
bodies of water, springs, mines (surface
and subsurface), quarries, water wells
and other pertinent surface features
including residences and roads. The
map should also show faults, if known
or suspected. Only information of public
record is required to be included on this
map;
(3) A tabulation of data on all wells
within the area of review which
penetrate into the proposed injection
zone. Such data shall include a
description of each well's type,
construction, date drilled, location,
depth, record of plugging and/or
completion, and any additional
information the Director may require;
(4) Maps and cross sections indicating
the general vertical and lateral limits of
all underground sources of drinking
water within the area of review, their
position relative to the injection
formation and the direction of water
movement, where known, in each
underground source of drinking water
which may be affected by the proposed
injection;
MAP
Area of Review
Only Public record
Penetrate injection zone
USDW's within Area
of Review
Direction of raovement
-32-
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Page
42507
33440
(5) Maps and cross sections detailing
the geologic structure of the local area;
(6) Generalized maps and cross
sections illustrating the regional geologic
setting;
(7) Proposed operating data:
(i) Average and maximum daily rate
and volume of the fluid to be injected;
(ii) Average and maximum injection
pressure; and
(iii) Source and an analysis of the
chemical, physical, radiological and
biological characteristics of injection
fluids;
(8) Proposed formation testing
program to obtain an analysis of the
chemical, physical and radiological
characteristics of and other information
on the receiving formation;
(9) Proposed stimulatignjjjrogTam;
(10) Proposedinjectionprocediire;
(11) Engineering drawings of the
surface and subsurface construction
details of the system;
(12) Contingency plans to cope with
all shut-ins or well failures so as to
prevent migration of fluids into any
underground source of drinking water
(13) Plans (including maps) for
meeting the monitoring requirements in
§ 146.13(b);
(14) For wells within the area of
review which penetrate the injection
zone but are not properly completed or
plugged, the cOTrgcUveaction proposed
to be taken under40CTRK2!44;
§122.44 Corrective action.
(Applicable to State UIC programs,
see § 123.7.)
(a) Coverage. Applicants for Class I, II
(other than existing), or ID injection well
permits shall identify the location of all
known wells within the injection well's
Local
Regional
Daily rate
Pressure
Injection Fluids
Formation Testing
Stimulation
Well failures
Monitoring
Corrective action
-33-
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Page
33440
area of review which penetrate the
injection zone. For such wells which are
improperly sealed, completed, or
abandoned, the applicant shall also
submit a plan consisting of such steps or
modifications as are necessary to
prevent movement of fluid into
underground sources of drinking water
("corrective action"). Where the plan is
adequate, the Director shall incorporate
it into the permit as a condition. Where
the Director's review of an application
indicates that the permittee's plan is
inadequate (based on the factors in
§ 146.07] the Director shall require the"
applicant to revise the plan, prescribe a
plan for corrective action as a condition
of the permit under paragraph (b) of this
section, or deny the application. The
Director may disregard the provisions of
§ 146.06 (area of review) and § 146.07
(corrective action) when reviewing an
application to permit an existing Class II
well.
(b) Requirements—(1) Existing
injection wells. Any permit issued for an
existing injection well (other than Class
II) requiring corrective action shall
include a compliance schedule requiring
any corrective action accepted or
prescribed under paragraph (a) of this
section to be completed as soon as
possible.
(2) New injection wells. No permit for
a new injection well may authorize
injection until all required corrective
action has been taken.
(3) Injection pressure limitation. The
Director may require as a permit
condition that injection pressure be so
limited that pressure in the injection
zone does not exceed hydrostatic
pressure at the site of any improperly
completed or abandoned well within the
area of review. This pressure limitation
shall satisfy the corrective action
requirement. Alternatively, such
injection pressure limitation can be part
of a compliance schedule and last until
all other required corrective action has
been taken.
42507 (15) Construction procedures
including a cementing and casing
program, logging procedures, deviation
checks, and a drilling, testing, and
coring program; and
(16) A certificate that the applicant
has assured, through a performance
bond or other appropriate means, the
resources necessary to close, plug or
abandon the well as required by 40 CFR
122.42(a).
(b) Prior to granting approval for the
ODgraJjfln.of a Class I well the Director
shall consider the following information:
(1) All available logging and testing
program data on the well;
Construction
Certificate
Tests
-34-
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Page
42507 (2) A demonstration of mechanical
integrity pursuant to § 146.08;
(3) The actual operating data;
(4) The results of the formation testing
program;
(5) The actual injection procedure;
(6) The compatibility of injected waste
with fluids in the injection zone and
minerals in both the injection zone and
the confining zone; and
(7) The status of corrective action on
defective wells in the area of review.
(c) Prior to granting approval for the
plugging and abandonment of a Class I
well the Director shall consider the
following information:
(1) The type and number of plugs to be
used;
(2) The placement of each plug
including the elevation of the top and
bottom;
(3) The type and grade and quantity of
cement to be used;
(4) The method for placement of the
plugs; and
(5) The procedure to be used to meet
the requirements of § 146.10(c).
§146.15 Mid-course evaluation
requirements.
In compliance with 40 CFR
122.18(c)(4)(c)(ii) the data to be
submitted on each Class loerjnj^ at six
month intervals during the nrsHwo
years of operation of the State program
shall at a minimum include the
following:
(a) The data required in $ 146.14(a)(l);
(b) The data required in § 146.14(a)(3)
including, under location, the distance
and direction from the injection well;
(c) The depth to the top and bottom of
any USDW;
(d) The distance to the nearest down-
gradient water supply well;
(e) A description of the geology and
Mechanical Integrity
Operating Data
Formation Testing
Compatibility
Corrective Action
Abandonment
Static equilibrium, etc,
hydrology of the area;
(f) The construction characteristics of
the well;
(g) The corrective action proposed as
well as that performed;
(h) The type and results of all
mechanical integrity tests reported to
the Director; and
(i) Any reporting to the Director under
§ 122.41(d).
-35-
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Scoring Guide
CFR 146 Subpart A and B
Note: These questions and the answers given are not
official guidance or policy.
146 A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
True.
True.
True.
False .
False.
True.
True .
True.
True.
True.
146.06
True.
False.
[146.01(b)]
[146.04(a>]
[146.05(3)]
Could be Class II or III.
Only injection wells [146.05(b)l
[146.05(c)J
[146.05(a)(2)] Presuming the waste
fluids are hazardous
[See 146.05(e)(1)1
[146.05(3)1
For example, family residential
waste disposal systems.
[146.06(a)l
1/4 mile is minimum for fixed radius.
Calculation nay be greater or smaller.
-36-
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13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
False.
True.
False.
True.
False.
True.
True.
False.
146 B
True and
22. True.
23.
24.
25.
26.
True.
False.
False.
True.
Director may require larger area.
[146.07(b)J
Also "(2) There is no significant
fluid movenent, etc." [146.08(a)(2)]
[146.08(b)(2)]
"with the written approval of the
Administrator," [146.08(D)]
[146.10(a)]
(a little comic relief)
False. True unless well is Class I
or Class III.
If there is a USDW within 1/4 mile
of the well below or into the injection
zone, wells injecting hazardous waste
are Class IV wells. If there is no USDW
within 1/4 of the well bore below or in
injection zone, the wells are Class I.
[146.12(b>]
Municipal wells injecting
non-corrosive wastes are exempted.
[146.12(c>]
Director may approve [146.12(c)]
Only when pilot hole used.
[146.12(d)(1)]
-37-
-------
27. False.
28. False.
29. True.
146.13
30. True.
31. True.
32. True.
33. False.
34. True.
35. True.
36. True.
37. True.
38. False.
39. True.
40. True.
41. False.
42. True.
Cement bond and temperature, or
density log after casing installed
and cemented
Won't work after.
[146.12(e) (2)]
"Operated." What about stimulation?
What if there is no USDW within 1/4 nile?
Makes no difference.
Unless packer not used, see
[146.12(c)J
"sufficient frequency"
[146.13(b) (2)]
[146.13(b)(3)J
[146.13(b)(4)J
Reported with first regular quarterly
report after completion.
[146.14(a)(3)]
[146.14(a)(9)]
May allow a compliance schedule,
for an existing well.
[122.44 (b) (1) and (2)]
"permit "
[146.15]
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