Underground Injection Control Well Regulations

• The Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) provides requirements and provisions regulating the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program. The main elements of these regulations are summarized below: 
  • 40 CFR Part 144 - Underground Injection Control Program (provides minimum requirements for the UIC Program promulgated under the SDWA)
  • 40 CFR Part 145 - State UIC Program Requirements (outlines procedures for EPA to approve, revise, and withdraw UIC programs that have been delegated to the states)
  • 40 CFR Part 146 - Underground Injection Control Program (includes technical standards for various classes of injections wells)
  • 40 CFR Part 147 - State Underground Injection Control Programs (outlines the applicable UIC programs for each state)
  • 40 CFR Part 148 - Hazardous Waste Injection Restrictions (describes the requirements for Class I hazardous waste injection wells)

●  The UIC Program provides five classifications for injection wells used as tools to prevent pollution of underground sources of drinking water. Each well class is based on the type and depth of the injection activity, and the potential for that injection activity to result in endangerment of underground sources of drinking water, as described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Here is the following classification:

○Class I Industrial and municipal waste disposal wells

○Class II Oil and gas related injection wells

○Class III Injection wells for solution mining

○Class IV Shallow hazardous and radioactive injection wells

○Class V Wells for injection of non-hazardous fluids into or above underground sources of drinking water

○Class VI Wells used for geologic sequestration of CO2

• Energy Policy Act of 2005 (excludes hydraulic fracturing from regulation under the UIC program, except when diesel fuels are used for oil, gas or geothermal production)

For more information, please contact the Guide Author, Jessica Deyoe,  Research Assistant  at The Center for Agricultural and Shale Law.  

Phone: (814) 865-4290

Email: jld531@psu.edu

The Center for Agricultural and Shale Law

Penn State Law

The Pennsylvania State University

329 Innovation Blvd., Suite 118

University Park, PA 16803

Phone: (814) 865-4290

Fax: (814) 865-3851