Region 8
Underground Injection Control
National Information
Regional Information
In a cooperative effort between EPA, state and tribal governments, the UIC Program works toward protecting underground sources of drinking water (USDW) from contamination by regulating the construction and operation of injection wells. Underground injection wells are primarily used to dispose of wastes into the subsurface and have the potential to adversely affect USDWs. Five classes of wells are defined according to the type of waste that is disposed and where the waste is injected. Detailed information on regulations can be found at EPA Regulations.
A brief description of the well types:
Class I: Industrial and Municipal Wells that Inject Beneath Lowermost USDW
Class II: Associated with Oil and Gas Production
Class III: Associated with Mineral Recovery
Class IV: Wells Injecting Hazardous Waste into USDWs (prohibited)
Class V: Injection Wells Not Included in Other Classes (typically Shallow Disposal Systems)
UIC Public Notices and Announcements
Powertech (USA) Inc.'s Dewey Burdock UIC Class III Permit Application
Dewey Burdock Application (PDF 12.7MB)
Appendices
Plates
Public Notice of UIC Class II Permit-related Actions
In accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR Section 124.10, EPA’s Region 8 UIC Program is soliciting public comment on issuance of its permit-related actions under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act and UIC Program regulations. These actions, noted in the table below, would authorize the injection of fluids into the subsurface for the purpose of either enhancing the production of oil and gas resources or disposal of produced water associated with these operations, and may include a proposed Aquifer Exemption of the Proposed Injection Zone(s), per 40 CFR Section 146.4(b)(1). If an Aquifer Exemption is proposed, the portion(s) of the aquifer(s) to be exempted and the basis for EPA’s proposed exemption is included.
Comments are requested for no less than 30 calendar days from the last date EPA publishes its announcement of each action. All comments received by the end of the comment period will be considered in the formulation of any final decisions. If no comments are received by the comment deadline, the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 8 intends to issue a Final UIC Permit and/or Aquifer Exemption. EPA will hold a public hearing if the response to a specific action indicates significant public interest or if requested. For additional information on a specific action, please call or email the EPA contact person listed below.
Class II permit related activities and their respective public comment deadlines
All written comments and requests for additional information should be addressed to the EPA contact person at the following address:
U.S. EPA Region 8 (8P-W-GW, UIC)
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202-1129
Complete permit applications and related documents are also available for review and reproduction at this address from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, federal holidays excluded. To make an appointment, please call the EPA contact.
UIC Class V Draft Permit – Montana State University-Bozeman, Energy Research Institute(MSU-ERI), Gallatin County, MT Permit No: MT52233-09515
The EPA Region 8 UIC Program is soliciting public comment on the issuance of a UIC Permit for a Class V Experimental Technology Well. The Montana State University-Bozeman, Energy Research Institute (MSU-ERI) has applied for a Class V Experimental Technology Well to conduct scientific studies using small amounts of food grade CO2 injected into a shallow horizontal well approximately 6 feet deep. The Zero Emission Research and Technology (ZERT) field project has been developed on the MSU campus in Bozeman, Montana to determine efficacy and detection limits of various near surface CO2 monitoring techniques as well as study the transport of CO2.
- Draft Permit (PDF 463KB)
- Draft Statement of Basis (PDF 107KB)
- Public Notice (PDF 14KB)