The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule on November 21 approving the state of Texas’ request to administer permitting for Class VI underground injection wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
With this approval, Texas will implement Underground Injection Control (UIC) programs covering all well types (Class I-VI), allowing better coordination and improved efficiencies.
The Safe Drinking Water Act protects public health through setting drinking water standards and controlling the quality of fluids injected into and below aquifers, including liquified captured carbon dioxide (CO2). The control of injected fluids through deep wells releasing the fluids below underground sources of drinking water (USDW) is to keep these fluids from endangering aquifers that supply public water systems.
Six states have applied and received approval now for primacy to regulate Class VI injection wells: North Dakota, Wyoming, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arizona, and Texas. Other states have applications pending: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Utah.
Click here to read the Texas Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI primacy application.