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Protecting Underground Sources of Drinking Water from Underground Injection (UIC)

  • Underground Injection

    EPA regulates the construction, operation, permitting, and closure of injection wells used to place fluids underground for storage or disposal.  Learn more about injection well types.

  • Hydraulic fracturing with diesel fuels

    EPA has program requirements for permitting underground injection of diesel fuels in hydraulic fracturing to ensure protection of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). Learn more about the permitting requirements.

  • Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide

    EPA has finalized requirements that address carbon dioxide injection for long-term storage to ensure that wells used for geologic sequestration are appropriately sited, constructed, tested, monitored, funded, and closed. Read more about Class VI wells.

This website contains information for owners and operators of injection wells, regulators, and the public about safe injection well operations to prevent the contamination of underground sources of drinking water. 

At this time, EPA may face delays in processing paper UIC permit applications and Hazardous Waste petition requests due to precautions being taken during the current COVID-19 pandemic.  If you plan on submitting a permit application for an EPA-issued permit or a Hazardous Waste petition request, please refer to the webpage of the appropriate EPA Regional Office for information on contacting EPA via email, telephone/voicemail, or other electronic means before submitting paper documents to EPA.

UIC Topics in the Spotlight

UIC Well Classes

  • Class I industrial and municipal waste disposal wells
  • Class II oil and gas related injection wells
  • Class III solution mining wells
  • Class IV shallow hazardous and radioactive waste injection wells 
  • Class V wells that inject non-hazardous fluids into or above underground sources of drinking water
  • Class VI geologic sequestration wells
    • Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide - Underground Injection Control Manual for UIC Program 
      Directors

Related Activities

  • Aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery
  • Aquifer exemptions
  • Financial responsibilities
    • Revised guidance “ Federal Financial Responsibility Demonstrations for Owners or Operators of Class II Oil- and Gas-Related Injection Wells”
  • National Technical Workgroup

About UIC Wells

  • Basic information
  • UIC program primary enforcement responsibility
    • New Mexico Class I program revision
    • Michigan Class II primacy
  • Compliance reporting requirements and 7520 forms for well operators and state regulators
  • Grants
  • UIC regulations
  • Injection well inventory

UIC Where You Live

EPA has ten regional offices. Each regional office oversees local state, territory, and tribal UIC activities. Select your state from the menu below, or click on your region to find local UIC information about:

  • Public notices
  • Permitting and registration
  • Tribal concerns
  • Regional UIC guidance documents
  • Contacts
 

Map of the US, split into EPA regionsRegion 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, VermontRegion 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, US Virgin IslandsRegion 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West VirginiaRegion 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, WisconsinRegion 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, TexasRegion 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, NebraskaRegion 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakaota, Utah, WyomingRegion 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific IslandsRegion 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Additional Resources

  • Injection well types
  • Hydraulic fracturing
  • Injection well regulations 
  • Aquifer exemptions
  • UIC data reporting information
  • UIC Comprehensive Program Evaluations
  • UIC online interactive training
  • Online EPA reporting form 7520-16 for Class V wells is now available
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 20, 2023
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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