Chapter 27
of
the Texas Water Code (the Injection Well Act) defines an
“injection well” as “an artificial excavation or
opening in the ground made by digging, boring, drilling, jetting,
driving, or some other method, and used to inject, transmit, or
dispose of industrial and municipal waste or oil and gas waste into
a subsurface stratum; or a well initially drilled to produce oil
and gas which is used to transmit, inject, or dispose of industrial
and municipal waste or oil and gas waste into a subsurface stratum;
or a well used for the injection of any other fluid; but the term
does not include any surface pit, surface excavation, or natural
depression used to dispose of industrial and municipal waste or oil
and gas waste.” All injection wells are regulated by either
TCEQ (the commission in the Act) or the
Railroad Commission of Texas
(RRC). Injection wells are classified into five different
types:
-
Class I wells, which are used for deep injection, are regulated
by the TCEQ. (The RRC reviews and comments on these
applications.)
- Class
II wells, which are related to energy byproducts, are regulated
by the RRC. (The TCEQ reviews and comments on these
applications.)
-
Class III wells, which are used to extract minerals other than
oil and gas, are regulated by the TCEQ or the RRC, depending on the
type of well.
-
Class IV wells are generally banned, but may be authorized by
the TCEQ or the EPA in certain environmental cleanup
operations.
-
Class V wells, which are used for many different activities,
are regulated by either the TCEQ or the RRC, depending on the type
of well.
A few examples of injection wells regulated by the TCEQ are:
- Wells that inject municipal, industrial, or hazardous wastes
into a layer that is below the lowermost underground source of
drinking water
- Wells that inject fluids to extract uranium or sulfur and to
get rid of waste byproducts from the mining operation
- Wells that inject hazardous waste above an underground source
of drinking water
- Any well or similar apparatus that releases a liquid or liquids
into or above an underground source of drinking water
Permit
Application Status
If you are still not sure whether you are regulated, read the
EPA’s UIC
Pocketbook or
contact
us.
