Regulation of Subterranean Liquid Introductions in EPA Region Encompassing Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
In EPA Region 8, which encompasses Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, and serves 27 tribal nations, the focus of the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program is currently on granting primacy to states for Class VI wells, which involve geologic carbon sequestration projects under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Section 1422.
Recently, the EPA proposed to approve Texas’s application to take primacy for Class VI UIC wells, allowing the Railroad Commission of Texas to issue and enforce permits for carbon sequestration wells. Similar primacy discussions and proposals are underway for other states, but at present, there are no specific announcements or proposed actions for Region 8.
For the most current public notices specifically for EPA Region 8 UIC permitting, it is recommended to check the official EPA Region 8 website or federal register notices periodically, as the available search results do not provide direct announcements or proposed actions for Region 8 at this time.
In Region 8, key personnel and their contact details for various aspects of the UIC Program are as follows:
- Karren Johnson, Financial Responsibility Staff Section Supervisor, can be reached at [johnson.karren@our website](mailto:johnson.karren@our website) and 303-312-6159. - Zac Moore is responsible for Class VI Permitting and state oversight for WOGCC. He can be contacted at [moore.zac@our website](mailto:moore.zac@our website) and 303-312-7075. - Fraser Evans specializes in Class I & II Permitting for UDOGM and the UIC Grants Project Office. He can be contacted at [evans.fraser@our website](mailto:evans.fraser@our website) and 303-312-6299. - VelRey Lozano is in charge of Class II Permitting for ECMC and can be reached at [lozano.velrey@our website](mailto:lozano.velrey@our website) and 303-312-6128. - Omar Sierra-Lopez handles Class I & II Permitting for UDEQ and can be contacted at [sierra-lopez.omar@our website](mailto:sierra-lopez.omar@our website) and 303-312-7045. - Bill Gallant handles Class II & III Permitting and can be contacted at [gallant.william@our website](mailto:gallant.william@our website) and 303-312-6455. - Craig Boomgaard is responsible for Class II Permitting for NDIC and can be reached at [boomgaard.craig@our website](mailto:boomgaard.craig@our website) and 303-312-6794. - Douglas Tebo is responsible for Class II Permitting for NDDEQ & SDDANR, and can be reached at [tebo.douglas@our website](mailto:tebo.douglas@our website) and 303-312-6274.
For inspections, compliance, and enforcement for Class I, II, III, and Class V deep wells, contact Gary Wang, Matthew Findley, Larry Granato, and Don Breffle at [wang.gary@our website](mailto:wang.gary@our website), [findley.matthew@our website](mailto:findley.matthew@our website), [granato.lawrence@our website](mailto:granato.lawrence@our website), and [breffle.don@our website](mailto:breffle.don@our website) respectively.
Tiffany Cantor is the Enforcement Staff Section Supervisor and can be contacted at [cantor.tiffany@our website](mailto:cantor.tiffany@our website) and 303-312-6521. Linda Bowling specializes in Class I & II Permitting and can be reached at [bowling.linda@our website](mailto:bowling.linda@our website) and 303-312-6254.
Benjamin D'Innocenzo is the Financial Responsibility Coordinator and can be contacted at [dinnocenzo.benjamin@our website](mailto:dinnocenzo.benjamin@our website) and 303-312-6342.
The Region 8 UIC Mailbox for submitting Class V inventory forms and questions is [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
For the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the Fort Peck Tribe Office of Environmental Protection has been delegated primacy for Class II injection wells. After receiving authorization to inject, all tests, reports, and notifications should be submitted to the Region 8 UIC mailbox.
Region 8 has guidance documents for various aspects of the UIC Program, including Cement Bond Logging and Interpretation, completing and operating wells, mechanical integrity, pressure testing, plugging and abandonment, temperature logging, radioactive tracer survey, Step Rate Testing, submitting a UIC permit application, transferring operational control of UIC injection wells, and financial responsibility.
Public comment is solicited on permit-related actions under the Safe Drinking Water Act and UIC Program regulations for a minimum of 30 calendar days on the EPA website. The Fort Peck Program Manager's contact information is provided.
For the most current public notices specifically for EPA Region 8 UIC permitting, it is recommended to check the official EPA Region 8 website or federal register notices periodically.
- In the process of primacy discussions and proposals for states other than Region 8, the current state with an approved application for Class VI UIC wells is Texas, allowing the Railroad Commission of Texas to issue and enforce permits for carbon sequestration wells as a result of EPA's proposed approval.
- With the focus of the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program in EPA Region 8 on granting primacy to states for Class VI wells, there is an ongoing effort to ensure the quality and safety of drinking water by adhering to the regulations set by environmental-science and science.
- The investment in the UIC Program and infrastructure in Region 8 is significant, with various business sectors playing a role, such as finance and industry, with key personnel being readily available for contact via email and phone.
- As part of the public involvement process, comments and concerns related to permit-related actions under the Safe Drinking Water Act and UIC Program regulations are welcome on the EPA website, encouraging an informed and productive dialogue regarding the environmental-science and regulations involved in the project.
