Underground Injection
Control
Contact: John Passehl, P.G.
307-777-5623
UIC GEM Database Website
UIC Current Public Notices and Draft Permits
UIC Class I Commercial Oilfield and Non-hazardous Waste Disposal Wells
The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program was established in 1982 when Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This program regulates, to one degree or the other, every "injection" of "fluid" into the subsurface. An "injection" is the emplacement of "fluids" regardless of whether the injection requires the application of pressure or not, and a fluid is defined as any liquid, gas or semisolid which can be made to flow.
Wyoming is a primacy state under both section 1422 and section 1425 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Under Section 1422, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (rather than EPA) has been delegated the authority to regulate Class I, III, IV and V UIC facilities. Under Section 1425, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has primacy for Class II wells.
The UIC Program has defined five classes of injection facilities as follows:
| CLASS OF INJECTION | TYPE OF FACILITIES | AGENCY RESPONSIBLE | RULE REFERENCE |
| I | Deep disposal of Industrial, Commercial or Municipal waste below the deepest usable aquifer. This type of injection always uses wells and usually requires applied pressure. Includes all wells which dispose of waste on a commercial basis, even if the waste disposed of would be otherwise eligible for disposal into a class II well. | Water Quality Division, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality | Chapters 8 and 13, Water Quality Rules and Regulations |
| II | Deep disposal of wastewater produced in conjunction with the production of oil and gas. | Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission | Rule 405 and others |
| III | Injection wells done for the purpose of recovery of minerals. Includes experimental technology wells, underground coal gasification wells, in situ mining wells for the recovery of copper, uranium, trona, etc. | Land Quality Division, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality | Chapter 11, Land Quality Non-Coal Rules and Regulations and Chapter 18 Land Quality Coal Rules and Regulations |
| IV | Illegal facilities which dispose of hazardous waste into or above any usable aquifer. | Water Quality Division, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality | Chapters 8, and 13 Water Quality Rules and Regulations |
| V | All other facilities which dispose of fluids into the subsurface, including CBM produced water. | Water Quality Division, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality | Chapters 3, 8, 11, and 16, Water Quality Rules and Regulations |
UIC Forms and Guidance Documents:
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The above forms are provided in PDF format. When we issue a permit, the Reporting Forms are sent to you, partially filled out with the name of the company, etc.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires DEQ to report active injection facilities in Wyoming. This list (last updated 12/12/03) does not contain addresses, Contact Names, or other identifying information. As time permits, other reports will be added to this web page which may be more useful to the general public. The categories in this report are EPA categories. The Coal Bed Methane wells are 5X27, Large Capacity Septics are 5W32, Drainage wells are 5D2, Class I injection wells are 1I, In-Situ Mining facilities are Class III, Industrial Drainfields are 5X28. Those categories make up the majority of listed facilities. Some categories are required to register under state rules, such as Deep Bed Anodes, but not under federal rules. Those facilities are not on this report.
UIC permit applications for injection of CBM produced water must include construction and operating requirements. General Permits have now been written to cover all of Campbell, Johnson and Sheridan Counties for all coal bed methane operators. [General Permit Guidance Document] There are three permits, 5C5-1 covers Campbell County from the south line of Township 48 North to the state line. 5C5-2 covers all of Campbell and Johnson Counties from the south line of Township 48 North and south to the county lines. 5C5-3 covers all of Sheridan County and Johnson County from the south line of Township 48 North and north to the county line. Operators of wells within these areas are required to obtain coverage under these general permits within six months of the issue date of the permits for existing wells. Rule authorizations within these areas have already expired. Operators who have not obtained coverage under the general permits are not allowed to continue injecting until coverage is obtained.
Injection/disposal wells are not allowed within CBM produced water impoundments. (Memo)
Last Update: September 27, 2004
