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EPA DETERMINES EXISTING CONTROLS ADEQUATE FOR CLASS V WELLS
Release Date: 05/04/2001
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2001
EPA DETERMINES EXISTING CONTROLS
ADEQUATE FOR CLASS V WELLS
Robin Woods 202-564-7841 / woods.robin@epa.gov
EPA has determined that existing federal rules and state programs to manage Class V underground injection wells are adequate to protect drinking water supplies and that additional federal regulation is not necessary at this time. Current federal requirements prohibit any injection activity that may endanger underground sources of drinking water. Under these regulations, EPA and the states have the authority to bring wells that are endangering underground sources of drinking water into compliance, and take enforcement and closure actions where necessary. EPA also promotes outreach to well owners and operators to educate them regarding their responsibilities under existing rules, and provides technical assistance to bring endangering wells into compliance. In December l999, EPA published new requirements for two types of Class V wells, large capacity cess pools and motor vehicle waste disposal wells. The new determination, proposed and subject to public comment, addresses all Class V well types not covered in the l999 final rule. The determination is based on an extensive evaluation of Class V wells, which concluded that existing federal rules and state programs for managing Class V wells are adequate to protect drinking water supplies and that additional federal regulations are not required at this time. Class V injection wells are typically shallow disposal systems for placing nonhazardous fluids underground, and have been regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act since l983 to protect underground sources of drinking water. EPA estimates that there are more than 650,000 Class V wells in the United States, located in every state, especially in areas where sewer systems are not available. The effective management of Class V wells is important because of their large number, the wide variety of fluids discharged into them and because most accessible fresh water is stored in underground aquifers. Aquifers serve as drinking water sources for 86 percent of public water systems in the U.S. These aquifers also supply private drinking water, agricultural wells, feed lakes and recharge streams and rivers. EPA is providing a 60-day public comment period. For more information, the general public can call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426–4791, email: hotline-sdwa@epa.gov . Additional information is also available at EPA’s Office of Water Web site: https://www.epa.gov/ow , under “What’s New.”
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