Underground Injection Control in EPA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX)
EPA Region 6 serves Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and 66 tribes.
- Public notices
- Contact information
- Regional guidance and guideline documents
- Primary enforcement authority information
- Tribal UIC permitting information
Public notices
New Mexico proposed UIC program revision for Class I injection wells
Summary
The EPA is providing notice of a proposal to approve an application from the State of New Mexico under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requesting federal authorization to revise its UIC program for Class I injection wells located within the State, except those in Indian country.
The State of New Mexico has revised their UIC program to establish new permit conditions, oversight, and enforcement to safely manage Class I hazardous waste wells. The agency is proposing to approve the revised New Mexico UIC program and is requesting public comment on this action.
Public comments
Comments will be accepted on or before November 27, 2020.
Submit your comments, identified by Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2020-0154, by one of the following two methods:
- Visit the Federal Portal (our preferred method) and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
- E-mail: rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov E-mail subject line: New Mexico Class I Revision Application Docket. Due to the COVID-19, mail pickup, holding, and delivery in our Dallas office is currently closed, we will not accept mailings at this time.
Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
EPA will respond to all significant comments on the application after the comment period closes.
Public hearing
The virtual public hearing for those who wish to provide oral testimony is scheduled on November 27, 2020 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am Mountain time. The hearing will take place by telephone using the toll-free call-in number (800) 378-7998.
Callers should dial the call-in number at the start of the hearing or anytime between 9:00 am and 11:00 am Mountain time on November 27, 2020. Callers will be asked whether they want to make a comment and will be placed in a queue. The operator will call on commenters in the order in which they join the queue. To ensure all interested persons have an opportunity to provide oral testimony, the speaking time allotted to each commenter will be 2 (two) minutes. While you are not speaking, you will be able to listen to others providing their comments. Once all commenters in the queue have provided testimony, if there is time remaining, the Hearing Officer will allow additional testimony from anyone who wishes to add to their prior comments. At that time, the Hearing Officer may limit the time allotted for additional comments depending on the number of people who request to provide additional comments. The hearing will conclude at 11:00 am Mountain time.
The virtual public hearing is an audio-only call. Commenters who want to supply written or other materials may do so via the online docket. Any supporting materials for oral testimony will be accepted through the close of the comment period on November 27, 2020
In accordance with 40 CFR § 124.12(d), the entire hearing will be transcribed and made available to the public as part of the administrative record.
Contact information
Mailing Address
Ground Water/UIC Section (WDDG)
US EPA Region 6
1201 Elm Street, Suite 500
Dallas, TX 75270-2102
214-665-7150
| Contacts by Topic | Contact Name and Email | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Aquifer Exemptions | Lisa Pham (pham.lisa@epa.gov) | 214-665-8326 |
| Aquifer Storage & Recovery | Arnold Bierschenk (bierschenk.arnold@epa.gov) | 214-665-7435 |
| Class I Well Permitting/Land Ban Exemptions | Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) | 214-665-8473 |
| Class II Contact | Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov) | 214-665-8364 |
| Class III Contact | Lisa Pham (pham.lisa@epa.gov) | 214-665-8326 |
| Class VI Contact | Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) | 214-665-8473 |
| Compliance Assistance & Enforcement (all well classes) | David Aguinaga (aguinaga.david@epa.gov) | 214-665-6439 |
| Field Inspection Contact | Guy Tidmore (tidmore.guy@epa.gov) | 214-665-3142 |
| Financial Assurance for Injection Wells | Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov) | 214-665-8305 |
| Hydraulic Fracturing | Arnold Bierschenk (bierschenk.arnold@epa.gov) | 214-665-7435 |
| National UIC Technical Workgroup | Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) | 214-665-8473 |
| Public Noticing | Evelyn Rosborough (rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov) | 214-665-7515 |
Regional guidance and guideline documents
Guidelines for Completing Class I Injection Well No Migration Petitions
Primacy enforcement authority information
UIC in Arkansas
| Class | Agency The following links exit the site | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| I | Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality | Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646 |
| II | Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission | Gary Looney (gary.looney@aogc.state.ar.us) 870-862-4965 |
| III |
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality | Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646 |
| IV |
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality | Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646 |
| V | Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality | Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646 |
| VI | U.S. EPA R6 |
Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473 |
|
US EPA R6 Oversight Contact |
Omar T. Martinez (martinez.omar@epa.gov) 214-665-8485 |
Arkansas Source Water Assessment and Protection Program
US EPA R6 Contact:
Omar T. Martinez (martinez.omar@epa.gov)
214-665-8485
UIC in Louisiana
| Class | Agency The following links exit the site | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| I | Louisiana Department of Natural Resources | Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569 |
| II | Louisiana Department of Natural Resources | Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569 |
| III | Louisiana Department of Natural Resources | Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569 |
| IV | Louisiana Department of Natural Resources | Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569 |
| V | Louisiana Department of Natural Resources | Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569 |
| VI | US EPA R6 |
Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473 |
|
US EPA R6 Oversight Contact |
Sona Chaudhary (Chaudhary.Sona@epa.gov) 214-665-8327 |
Louisiana Source Water Protection Program
US EPA R6 Contact:
Sona Chaudhary (Chaudhary.Sona@epa.gov)
214-665-8327
UIC in New Mexico
| Class | Agency The following links exit the site | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| I | New Mexico Environment Department (Others) | Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936 |
| I | New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (Non-exempt oilfield refinery waste) | Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274 |
| II | New Mexico Oil Conservation Division | Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274 |
| III | New Mexico Environment Department (Others) | Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936 |
| III | New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (Brine solution mining) | Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274 |
| IV | New Mexico Environment Department (Others) | Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936 |
| V | New Mexico Environment Department (Others) | Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936 |
| V | New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (Wells associated with geothermal, oil and gas production, brine mining and oil field service related facilities) | Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274 |
| VI | US EPA R6 |
Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473 |
|
US EPA R6 Oversight Contact |
Lisa Pham (pham.lisa@epa.gov) 214-665-8326 |
Visit the State of New Mexico's Oil and Conservation Division (NMOCD) publications website to review New Mexico's brochure of Class II well facts, and UIC Manual The UIC Brochure provides general information on the UIC program and Class II injections wells in New Mexico. The UIC Manual provides detailed information for injection well operators, on NMOCD’s UIC regulatory requirements.
New Mexico Source Water Protection Program
US EPA R6 Contact:
Lisa Pham (pham.lisa@epa.gov)
214-665-8326
UIC in Oklahoma
| Class | Agency The following links exit the site | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| I | Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality | Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188 |
| II | Oklahoma Corporation Commission | Patricia Downey (p.downey@occemail.com) 405-522-2745 |
| III | Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality | Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188 |
| IV | Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality | Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188 |
| V | Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality | Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188 |
| VI | US EPA R6 |
Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473 |
|
US EPA R6 Oversight Contacts |
Ian Ussery (ussery.ian@epa.gov) OCC 214-665-6639 Lauren Ray (ray.lauren@epa.gov) ODEQ 213-665-2756 |
Oklahoma Source Water Protection Program
US EPA R6 Contact:
Class II Wells
Ian Ussery (ussery.ian@epa.gov)
214-665-2294
US EPA R6 Contact:
Class I, III, IV, V Wells
Lauren Ray (ray.lauren@epa.gov)
214-665-2756
UIC in Texas
| Class | Agency | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| I | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | Carol Dye (carol.dye@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-1504 |
| II | Railroad Commission of Texas | Sean Avitt (sean.avitt@rrc.texas.gov) 512-463-3011 |
| III | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (Others) | Carol Dye (carol.dye@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-1504 |
| III | Railroad Commission of Texas (Solution Brine mining) | Sean Avitt (sean.avitt@rrc.texas.gov) 512-463-3011 |
| IV | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | Carol Dye (carol.dye@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-1504 |
| V | Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (Others) | Carol Dye (carol.dye@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-1504 |
| V | Railroad Commission of Texas (Geothermal and in situ coal combustion) | Sean Avitt (sean.avitt@rrc.texas.gov) 512-463-3011 |
| VI | US EPA R6 |
Arnold Bierschenk (bierschenk.arnold@epa.gov) 214-665-7435 |
|
US EPA R6 Oversight Contacts |
Arnold Bierschenk Class II (bierschenk.arnold@epa.gov) 214-665-7435 Eric Anderson Class I, III, IV, V (anderson.eric@epa.gov) 214-665-8092 |
US EPA R6 Contacts:
Class II Wells
Arnold Bierschenk (Bierschenk.arnold@epa.gov)
214-665-7435
US EPA R6 Contact:
Class I, III, IV, V Wells
Eric Anderson (anderson.eric@epa.gov)
214-665-8092
Texas Source Water Protection Program
Tribal UIC permitting information
Regional UIC Direct Implementation (DI) Program Contact
Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov), UIC DI Coordinator, Ground Water/UIC Section (6WDDG) Safe Drinking Water Branch, Water Division, Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6, 1201 Elm Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75270. Ph: 214-665-8364.
EPA implements the UIC program on tribal lands in EPA Region 6 except for the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission implements the UIC program for the Five Civilized Tribes.
EPA issues and maintains active tribal UIC permits in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Tribes with UIC permitting activity include:
- Osage Nation (Oklahoma)
- Jicarilla Apache (New Mexico)
Currently there is no tribal UIC permitting activity in Texas, Louisiana, or Arkansas.
Class II injection well owners and operators planning injection activities on tribal lands in EPA Region 6 must submit an injection well application package.
Owners or operators planning to operate a Class II injection well on tribal lands in EPA Region 6, except on Osage Nation land, should contact Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov) for an application package.
For wells to be located on Osage Nation land, owners and operators should access the permit application directly from the Osage Nation.
Osage Nation underground injection control well application package