Federal Regulatory Programs for Coal Bed Methane Activities in Alaska


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EPA reviews NEPA documents
for compliance with NEPA,
CEQ regulations and CAA
Section 309.
Federal agency may be lead or
cooperating agency, and State
of Alaska may be cooperating
agency, for NEPA document.
Storage, transport;
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EPA delegated solid waste
management authority to
ADEC. EPA provides oversight.
EPA regulates hazardous
waste management.
ADEC issues permits and plan
approvals and regulates
storage and disposal of non-
hazardous solid waste.
Oil and hazardous
spills

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EPA has primary authority to
direct response and cleanup of
spills to navigable waters in the
inland zone.
U.S. Coast Guard has primary
authority to direct response and
cleanup of spills to navigable
waters in the coastal zone.
ADEC provides state response
and directs cleanups of spills on
land.
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EPA inspects facilities and
reviews SPCC Plans.
SPCC Plan may be combined
with ADEC-required Oil
Discharge Prevention and
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ADEC's EPA-approved
construction and operating
permit programs.
ADEC issues Prevention of
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permits and Title V air quality
operating permits.
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EPA has delegated this permit
program to Alaska Oil and Gas
Conservation Commission
(AOGCC). EPA maintains
oversight. EPA can exempt an
aquifer as an underground
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AOGCC regulates the siting,
permitting, construction, testing
and operation of Class II UIC
wells in Alaska.
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Department of Environmental
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EPA Role and
Responsibility
Additional Agency
Requirements


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01
Methane Activities in
Alaska
EPA910-F-04-001
November 2004
   United States      Region 10
   Environmental Protection  1200 Sixth Avenue
   Agency         Seattle WA 98101
   Federal
   Regulatory
   Programs for
   Coal Bed Methane
   Activities in
   Alaska

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This fact sheet presents a summary of the primary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsibilities related to onshore coal bed methane (CBM)
exploration, development and production in Alaska. A discussion of wastewater discharge permits, 404 permits, and regulation of undergound injection
wells follows. The table includes a broader range of possible CBM activities, applicable federal regulatory programs, and EPA's role in administering the
programs.
Wastewater Discharge Permits

The NPDES Program: EPA is responsible
for issuing permits for discharges of
pollutants to waters of the United States
under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA).
Under the CWA, EPA regulates the point
source discharge of wastewater from
industrial facilities to surface waters of the
U.S., including wetlands, through National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permits. EPA can issue individual
NPDES permits to specific facilities, or
general NPDES permits for similar activities
at facilities located in the same geographic
region.

What's in a Permit?: NPDES permits may
be required for discharges from specific
CBM sources such as produced water at
drilling sites and from general activities such
as storm water runoff from land clearings,
parking lots and roadways. NPDES permits
contain numerical effluent limits that
describe which pollutants must be
monitored and documented, and what
quantity or concentration of pollutants are
allowed in the discharges. EPA reviews
NPDES monitoring reports and conducts
inspections of permitted facilities.

Water Quality Certification: CWA Section
401 requires NPDES permits to receive
certification from the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation that the
discharges will not violate Alaska's state
water quality standards.
404 Permits

CWA Section 404 requires permits for
activities that may result in the placement of
fill or dredged material into waters of the
U.S., including wetlands. The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers issues Section 404
permits. EPA reviews the permits to ensure
they comply with the CWA. Under the CWA,
EPA has the authority to enforce Section
404 requirements.
Underground Injection Wells

Wastes, such as brine or other fluids that
are brought to the surface in connection
with oil or natural gas production from CBM
wells, may be disposed using underground
injection wells, which inject fluids below
underground sources of drinking water. The
federal Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes
EPA to protect underground sources of
drinking water by requiring permits for any
underground injection of fluids. Through the
Underground Injection Control (UIC)
Program, EPA regulates five classes of
injection wells, which are defined according
to the type of fluid injected and the area
where the fluid is injected. For CBM, most
re-injection is done into Class II wells, which
are for fluids that are either brought to the
surface in connection with oil and gas
development or that are used to enhance
the recovery of oil and gas. In Alaska, the
Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission (AOGCC) has been delegated
responsibility for Class II wells, and EPA
provides oversight. The AOGCC regulates
the siting, permitting, construction, testing,
and operation of Class II wells throughout
Alaska.
For More Information

For more information about EPA's
role in CBM exploration, development
and production in Alaska, contact
Colleen Burgh at 907-271-1481
or in Alaska at 1-800-781-0983.

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