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Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells (MVWDW)

Region 5 Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program is responsible for MVWDW Closures in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Indian Lands in Region 5. The Region 5 UIC Program is also participating in the Illinois UIC Class V Mutual Benefits Project.

Para informacción en español, consulte Páginas en Español.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.

General Information About the Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well Rule

US EPA Region 5 has developed a Fact Sheet (PDF) (8pp, 156Kb) about MVWDW, their closure and how to better handle motor vehicle waste.

US EPA Headquarters webpage about MVWDWs

Small Entity Compliance Guide - How the New Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well Rule Affects Your Business (PDF) [816-R-00-018 / November 2000] (33 pp, 400Kb). If you prefer to order a copy, please call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791. This document outlines the new Federal requirements for owners and operators of existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells. The guide includes answers to questions such as:

Draft Region 5 Guidelines for Conducting Site Assessments at Class IV and V Injection Well Facilities (1995).

In addition, information about Small Business Efforts may be relevant.

Frequently Asked Questions About EPA Letters to MVWDW Facility Owners

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well to close. What do I have to do?

  1. Notify US EPA that you will close your disposal well, and how you will do it.
    1. Send US EPA a completed Pre-Closure Notification Form.
      In most situations, an acceptable form will have the following boxes checked under the type of well closure:
      • Clean out well;
      • Appropriate disposal of remaining fluids/sediments; and
      • Install permanent plug
    2. Along with the form, a Closure Plan should be included. This is simply a very brief (sentence or two) description of each of the boxes checked on the form. An example of these descriptions can be found in Closure Guidelines for Facilities with Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells (PDF) (2pp, 11Kb). We also have pictures of example floor drain closures.
    3. If sampling of the fluids or sediments is necessary, you need to include a description of how this will be done. To see if you need to sample, look at When Is Sampling Required (PDF) (2pp, 30Kb). What is needed in a Sampling Plan is described in Guidelines for Sampling and Analyses of Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells (PDF) (2pp, 12Kb).
  2. Close your disposal well.
    1. If you don't hear back from US EPA within 30 days, or if you are told that the Closure Plan is acceptable, you may go ahead and close your disposal well as you described in the plan.
    2. US EPA will contact you within 30 days of our receipt of your plan if you need to make any changes to your plan.
    3. Save proof that you closed your disposal well. Examples of this proof could be: before and after pictures, receipts for closure supplies (like cement) or for work done (like tank pumping and cleaning), any sample results, etc. You need to keep this for at least 3 years.
  3. Let US EPA know that your disposal well was closed, and how it was done.
    1. Provide a Closure Report that describes how the disposal well was closed to US EPA. This could simply be a signed letter that says that the disposal well was closed as described in your Closure Plan. Include proof of the closure.
    2. If your disposal well was closed differently than in your closure plan, describe the changes and explain why it was done that way.

Oh no! I already closed my floor drain but didn't follow all those procedures. Now what should I do?

You will not be penalized for closing your well before the EPA contacted you about how to close it. We do still need to know when and generally how it was closed.

In this situation, we still want you to fill out and sign the Pre-Closure Notification Form. Just cross out the "Pre-" on the top of the form, check all the boxes that apply, and include the date the disposal well was closed (instead of the proposed date of well closure). No Closure Plan is necessary.

Mail the form (and any proof of the well closure like a picture or copies of receipts) to:

U.S. EPA Region 5
Underground Injection Control Branch
ATTN: Lisa Perenchio (WU-16J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590

Example Floor Drain Closures

We have pictures of examples of floor drain closures.

MVWDW Closure Video

The Ground Water Protection Council Exit EPA Disclaimer has prepared a video (an introduction plus four modules) to assist owners and operators of Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells to comply with the Class V Rule by closing their wells. (This video can no longer be viewed online but it can be ordered in DVD, VHS or CD format by contacting GWPC.)

Sample Signs to Post By Sinks in Facilities with Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells (MVWDWs)

The Region 5 Underground Injection Control Program has prepared two samples signs that could be posted near sinks in facilities with MVWDWs. These are only examples - other language may be\ used. The two files are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view these files. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader. You may view the signs and save them to your computer for your use. Each sign is 8.5 inches by 11 inches.

Sign View Sign
Sign 1 Sample Sign 1 PDF (1 p, 22 K)
Sign 2 Sample Sign 2 PDF (1 p, 31 K)

Accredited Laboratories

List of NELAC Accredited Laboratories Exit EPA Disclaimer (About the The NELAC Institute (TNI; NELAC is the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation conference.)
Laboratories Certified by the Indiana Department of Health
Michigan Environmental Laboratory Directory

Assistance from States

This section of this page provides links to non-EPA web sites that provide additonal information related to closing MVWDWs. You will leave the EPA.gov domain and enter another page with more information. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of information on that non-EPA page. Providing links to a non-EPA Web site is not an endorsement of the other site or the information it contains by EPA or any of its employees. Also, be aware that the privacy protection provided on the EPA.gov domain (see Privacy and Security Notice) may not be available at the external link. Exit EPA Disclaimer

Illinois

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Underground Injection Control Program

Indiana

Indiana Department of Environmental Management Information for Vehicle Maintenance Shops
Laboratories Certified by the Indiana Department of Health

Michigan

Environmental Guidebook for the Vehicle Service Industry
Michigan Environmental Laboratory Directory

Minnesota

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has prepared a checklist PDF (2pp, 182Kb) for automotive wastewater discharges to help you determine Minnesota requirements for wastewater disposal.
Transportation Services and the Environmental web page has other fact sheets related to wastewater disposal.

 

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