99-234. Call for Data on Class V Wells Including Agriculture and Storm Water Drainage Wells, Large Capacity Septic Systems and Geothermal Wells; Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class V Study

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1007-1008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-234]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6215-8]


Call for Data on Class V Wells Including Agriculture and Storm 
Water Drainage Wells, Large Capacity Septic Systems and Geothermal 
Wells; Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class V Study

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.


[[Page 1008]]


ACTION: Request for scientific information.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking 
supplementary information, studies, and research pertaining to 
subclasses of Class V Underground Injection Wells.

DATES: Please submit information in response to this notice by February 
1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit to: Ms. Amber Moreen; USEPA; 401 M St., SW (4606); 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: [phone]; e-mail: 
[e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anhar Karimjee; Class V Study 
Manager; USEPA; 401 M St., SW (4606); Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 
[phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A study of Underground Injection Control 
(UIC) Class V wells is being conducted to satisfy a consent decree with 
the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. The decree requires that a study of 
all Class V wells not currently slated for regulation be completed by 
September 1999. The results of the study will be used to help the 
Agency determine whether to regulate each subclass of Class V well and 
propose any necessary regulations by April 2001. Wells for which we are 
seeking information include:
    (1) Agricultural Drainage Wells include all wells receiving 
agricultural runoff. This includes improved sinkholes and abandoned 
drinking water wells receiving agricultural runoff, wells that recharge 
aquifers with agricultural tail waters, and wells used to drain flood 
irrigation.
    (2) Storm Water Drainage Wells are shallow injection wells designed 
for the disposal of rain water and melted snow. These wells typically 
drain paved areas such as streets and parking lots, or roofs. Improved 
sinkholes and abandoned drinking water wells receiving storm water 
runoff are considered to be storm water drainage wells.
    (3) Large-Capacity Septic Systems are used to dispose of sanitary 
waste through a septic tank used by a multiple dwelling, business 
establishment, community, or regional business establishment for the 
injection of wastes. Systems serving single families and non-
residential systems serving less than 20 persons are not included.
    (4) Geothermal Wells:
    A. Heat Pump/Air Conditioning Return Flow Wells reinject ground 
water that has been passed through a heat exchanger in order to heat or 
cool buildings. A heat pump takes thermal energy from the ground water 
and transfers it to the space being heated. When cooling is required 
the heat pump removes heat from a building and transfers it to the 
ground water. For the purposes of the study, only open loop heat pump/
AC return flow wells are considered.
    B. Direct Heat Return Flow Wells dispose of spent geothermal fluids 
following the extraction of heat used directly (without conversion to 
electric power or passed through a heat exchanger) to heat homes, 
swimming pools, etc.
    C. Electric Power Return Flow Wells dispose of spent geothermal 
fluids following the extraction of heat for the production of electric 
power.

Submission of Information

    The UIC program is providing an opportunity for public involvement. 
While the Agency conducts a thorough literature search, there may be 
other articles or unpublished studies of which we are not aware. The 
Agency would greatly appreciate receiving scientific information from 
the public. The most useful documents for EPA are unpublished studies 
or other primary technical sources that we may not otherwise obtain 
through open literature searches. For a list of articles and studies 
included in the current report, please consult http://www.epa.gov/
ogwdw/uic/cl5study.html. Also note, if you have submitted information 
previously there is no need to resubmit that information.
    Interested persons should provide a list briefly describing 
scientific comments, analyses, studies, and other pertinent scientific 
information they wish to submit. Where possible, documents should be 
listed in scientific citation format, that is, author(s), title, 
journal, and date. Please note that the correspondence is a Class V 
Study Submission, the well subclass it pertains to, and include names, 
addresses, and telephone numbers of persons to contact for additional 
information on the submission. The submission should be mailed to the 
aforementioned address or submitted electronically to 
[e-mail]. Information will also be accepted on 
3.5'' floppy disks.

    Dated: December 28, 1998.
Elizabeth Fellows,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 99-234 Filed 1-6-99; 8:45 am]
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