Drinking water: Underground injection control program— Agricultural and storm water drainage wells, etc.; study,

[Federal Register: January 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 4)]

[Notices]

[Page 1007-1008]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr07ja99-18]

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.

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: (202) 260-4891; e-mail: moreen.amber@epamail.epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anhar Karimjee; Class V Study Manager; USEPA; 401 M St., SW (4606); Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 260-3862; e-mail: karimjee.anhar@epamail.epa.gov.

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 moreen.amber@epamail.epa.gov. 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. 99-234Filed1-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P