Drinking water: Underground injection control program— Aquifer storage and recovery wells, etc.; peer reviewers and study,

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

[Notices]

[Page 1007]

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

[DOCID:fr07ja99-17]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6215-7]

Call for Peer Reviewers and Data on Aquifer Storage and Recovery Wells, Aquifer Recharge Wells, Saline Intrusion Barrier Wells, Subsidence Control Wells, and Aquifer Remediation Injection Wells; Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class V Study

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Call for peer review nominations; request for scientific information.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting nominations of qualified candidates for peer review committees addressing reports on Class V Underground Injection Control (UIC) Wells. We are also seeking supplementary information, studies, and research pertaining to Aquifer Recharge and ASR Wells.

DATES: Please submit information and nominations 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 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 experts and information include:

(1) Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Wells are used to inject fluids for later recovery and use. These wells may have a secondary purpose such as aquifer recharge. EPA is drafting reports which summarize the available information on these wells.

(2) Aquifer Recharge Wells are used to inject fluids to recharge an aquifer. These wells may have secondary purposes such as saline intrusion prevention, subsidence control, or aquifer storage and recovery (ASR).

(3) Saline Intrusion Barrier Wells are used to inject fluids to prevent the intrusion of salt water into an aquifer. These wells may have secondary purposes such as aquifer recharge.

(4) Subsidence Control Wells are used to control land subsidence caused by ground water withdrawal, or over pumping of oil and gas. These wells may have secondary purposes such as aquifer recharge.

(5) Aquifer Remediation Wells are used to clean up, treat, or prevent contamination of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). Treated ground water (pump and treat), bioremediation agents, or other recovery enhancement materials may be injected into the subsurface via Class V wells. These wells may be associated with RCRA or CERCLA projects.

Nomination of Peer Reviewers

EPA is drafting reports which summarize the available information on these wells. We anticipate that these reports will be from 25 to 40 pages long. The peer reviewers will comment on the technical accuracy and completeness of the draft documents addressing the subclass of injection well. Selection for peer reviewers will be based on demonstrated capability and professional accomplishment in the indicated area of specialization, in the conduct or management of scientific or engineering research and in applying research to ground water issues. Nominations must include a resume describing the educational and professional qualifications of the nominee and the nominee's current address and daytime telephone number. To avoid conflicts of interest, candidates should provide their previous employment and any financial or other interests that could possibly be relevant to the study.

Submission of Information

The UIC program is providing an opportunity for public involvement. While the Agency has drafted a report on these wells, 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, Environmental Protection Agency.

[FR Doc. 99-233Filed1-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P