Underground Injection Control Aquifer Exemption Approval for Lisbon Valley Mining Company, LLC, GTO In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Wellfield, San Juan County, Utah

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved an aquifer exemption request from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) that will allow the expansion of copper mining in a part of the Burro Canyon aquifer in San Juan County, Utah. Working with UDEQ, EPA determined that a limited portion of the Burro Canyon aquifer does not and will not serve as a source of drinking water. This determination will allow the Lisbon Valley Mining Company to expand current mining operations to include underground recovery of copper, a vital mineral.

The Underground Injection Control (UIC) program regulations prohibit the injection of fluids into aquifers like Burro Canyon unless EPA exempts the portion containing commercially producible minerals, including copper, that can be dissolved and extracted. UDEQ issued a Class III injection well permit for this project, and EPA approved the aquifer exemption. 

Documents:

• Cover Letter (pdf) (165.87 KB)
   
• Record of Decision (pdf) (1.08 MB)
   
• Technical Memorandum (pdf) (2.58 MB)

Contact Info:

Omar Sierra-Lopez

Sierra-lopez.omar@epa.gov