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Underground Injection Control (UIC)

Underground Injection Control in EPA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX)

EPA Region 6 serves Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and 66 tribes.

On this page:

Public notices 

New Mexico proposed UIC program revision for Class I injection wells

Summary

The EPA is providing notice of a proposal to approve an application from the State of New Mexico under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requesting federal authorization to revise its UIC program for Class I injection wells located within the State, except those in Indian country.  

The State of New Mexico has revised their UIC program to establish new permit conditions, oversight, and enforcement to safely manage Class I hazardous waste wells. The agency is proposing to approve the revised New Mexico UIC program and is requesting public comment on this action.

Public comments

Comments will be accepted on or before November 27, 2020.

Submit your comments, identified by Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2020-0154, by one of the following two methods:

  • Visit the Federal Portal (our preferred method) and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
  • E-mail: rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov  E-mail subject line: New Mexico Class I Revision Application Docket.  Due to the COVID-19, mail pickup, holding, and delivery in our Dallas office is currently closed, we will not accept mailings at this time. 

Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

EPA will respond to all significant comments on the application after the comment period closes.

Public hearing

The virtual public hearing for those who wish to provide oral testimony is scheduled on November 27, 2020 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am Mountain time. The hearing will take place by telephone using the toll-free call-in number (800) 378-7998.

Callers should dial the call-in number at the start of the hearing or anytime between 9:00 am and 11:00 am Mountain time on November 27, 2020. Callers will be asked whether they want to make a comment and will be placed in a queue. The operator will call on commenters in the order in which they join the queue. To ensure all interested persons have an opportunity to provide oral testimony, the speaking time allotted to each commenter will be 2 (two) minutes. While you are not speaking, you will be able to listen to others providing their comments. Once all commenters in the queue have provided testimony, if there is time remaining, the Hearing Officer will allow additional testimony from anyone who wishes to add to their prior comments. At that time, the Hearing Officer may limit the time allotted for additional comments depending on the number of people who request to provide additional comments. The hearing will conclude at 11:00 am Mountain time.

The virtual public hearing is an audio-only call. Commenters who want to supply written or other materials may do so via the online docket.  Any supporting materials for oral testimony will be accepted through the close of the comment period on November 27, 2020

In accordance with 40 CFR § 124.12(d), the entire hearing will be transcribed and made available to the public as part of the administrative record.

Contact information

Mailing Address

Ground Water/UIC Section (6WDDG)
US EPA Region 6
1201 Elm Street, Suite 500
Dallas, TX 75270-2102
214-665-7150

Contacts by Topic Contact Name and Email Phone Number
Contact Information for UIC Staff in Region 6
Aquifer Exemptions Lisa Pham (pham.lisa@epa.gov) 214-665-8326
Aquifer Storage & Recovery Arnold Biershenk (biershenk.arnold@epa.gov) 214-665-7435
Class I Well Permitting/Land Ban Exemptions Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473
Class II Contact Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov) 214-665-8364
Class III Contact Lisa Pham (pham.lisa@epa.gov) 214-665-8326
Class VI Contact Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473
Compliance Assistance & Enforcement (all well classes) David Aguinaga (aguinaga.david@epa.gov) 214-665-6439
Field Inspection Contact Guy Tidmore (tidmore.guy@epa.gov) 214-665-3142
Financial Assurance for Injection Wells Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov) 214-665-8305
Hydraulic Fracturing Arnold Biershenk (biershenk.arnold@epa.gov) 214-665-7435
National UIC Technical Workgroup Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473
Public Noticing Evelyn Rosborough (rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov) 214-665-7515

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Regional guidance and guideline documents

Guidelines for Completing Class I Injection Well No Migration Petitions

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Primacy enforcement authority information

UIC in Arkansas

Who regulates UIC wells in Arkansas
Class Agency  The following links exit the site Exit Contact
I Arkansas Department of Environmental QualityExit Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646
II Arkansas Oil and Gas CommissionExit Gary Looney (gary.looney@aogc.state.ar.us) 870-862-4965
III
 
Arkansas Department of Environmental QualityExit Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646
IV
 
Arkansas Department of Environmental QualityExit Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646
V Arkansas Department of Environmental QualityExit Linda Hanson (hanson@adeq.state.ar.us) 501-682-0646
VI U.S. EPA R6

Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473

Arkansas Source Water Assessment and Protection Program Exit

US EPA R6 Contact:
Omar T. Martinez (martinez.omar@epa.gov)
214-665-8485
 

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UIC in Louisiana

Who regulates UIC wells in Louisiana
Class Agency The following links exit the site Exit Contact
I Louisiana Department of Natural ResourcesExit Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569
II Louisiana Department of Natural ResourcesExit Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569
III Louisiana Department of Natural ResourcesExit Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569
IV Louisiana Department of Natural ResourcesExit Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569
V Louisiana Department of Natural ResourcesExit Stephen Lee (stephen.lee@la.gov) 225-342-5569
VI US EPA R6

Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov)  214-665-8473

Louisiana Source Water Protection ProgramExit

US EPA R6 Contacts:
Lauren Ray (ray.lauren@epa.gov) 214-665-2756
Sam Yun (yun.samuel@epa.gov) 214-665-7371

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UIC in New Mexico

Who regulates UIC wells in New Mexico
Class Agency  The following links exit the site Exit Contact
I New Mexico Environment Department (Others)Exit Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936
I New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (Non-exempt oilfield refinery waste)Exit Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274
II New Mexico Oil Conservation Division Exit Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274
III New Mexico Environment Department (Others) Exit Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936
III New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (Brine solution mining) Exit Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274
IV New Mexico Environment Department (Others) EXIT Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936
V New Mexico Environment Department (Others) Exit Melanie Sandoval (melanie.sandoval2@state.nm.us) 505-827-2936
V New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (Wells associated with geothermal, oil and gas production, brine mining and oil field service related facilities) Exit Phillip Goetze (phillip.goetze@state.nm.us) 505-660-8274
VI US EPA R6

Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov)  214-665-8473

Visit the State of New Mexico's Oil and Conservation Division (NMOCD) publications website to review  New Mexico's brochure of Class II well facts, and UIC Manual. EXIT The UIC Brochure  provides general information on the UIC program and Class II injections wells in New Mexico.  The UIC Manual provides detailed information for injection well operators, on NMOCD’s UIC regulatory requirements. 

New Mexico Source Water Protection Program Exit

US EPA R6 Contact:
Lisa Pham (pham.lisa@epa.gov)
214-665-8326

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UIC in Oklahoma

Who regulates UIC wells in Oklahoma
Class Agency The following links exit the site Exit Contact
I Oklahoma Department of Environmental QualityExit Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188
II Oklahoma Corporation CommissionExit Patricia Downey (p.downey@occemail.com) 405-522-2745
III Oklahoma Department of Environmental QualityExit Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188
IV Oklahoma Department of Environmental QualityExit Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188
V Oklahoma Department of Environmental QualityExit Hillary Young (hillary.young@deq.ok.gov) 405-702-5188
VI US EPA R6

Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473

Oklahoma Source Water Protection Program Exit

US EPA R6 Contact:
Class II Wells
Nancy Dorsey (dorsey.nancy@epa.gov)
214-665-2294

US EPA R6 Contact:
Class I, III, IV, V Wells
Lauren Ray (ray.lauren@epa.gov)
214-665-2756

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UIC in Texas

Who regulates UIC wells in Texas
Class Agency Contact
I Texas Commission on Environmental QualityExit Lorrie Council (lorrie.council@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-6461
II Railroad Commission of Texas Exit Sean Avitt (sean.avitt@rrc.texas.gov) 512-463-3011
III Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (Others) Exit Lorrie Council (lorrie.council@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-6461
III Railroad Commission of Texas (Solution Brine mining)Exit Sean Avitt (sean.avitt@rrc.texas.gov) 512-463-3011
IV Texas Commission on Environmental QualityExit Lorrie Council (lorrie.council@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-6461
V Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (Others)Exit Lorrie Council (lorrie.council@tceq.texas.gov) 512-239-6461
V Railroad Commission of Texas (Geothermal and in situ coal combustion)Exit Sean Avitt (sean.avitt@rrc.texas.gov) 512-463-3011
VI US EPA R6

Ken Johnson (johnson.ken-e@epa.gov) 214-665-8473

Texas Source Water Protection Program Exit

US EPA R6 Contact:
Class II Wells
Arnold Bierschenk (Bierschenk.arnold@epa.gov)
214-665-7435

US EPA R6 Contact:
Class I, III, IV, V Wells
Jose Torres (torres.jose@epa.gov)
214-665-8092

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Tribal UIC permitting information

Regional UIC Direct Implementation (DI) Program Contact
Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov), UIC DI Coordinator, Ground Water/UIC Section (6WDDG) Safe Drinking Water Branch, Water Division, Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6, 1201 Elm Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75270. Ph: 214-665-8364.

EPA implements the UIC program on tribal lands in EPA Region 6 except for the Five Civilized TribesExit in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission implements the UIC program for the Five Civilized Tribes.

EPA issues and maintains active tribal UIC permits in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Tribes with UIC permitting activity include:

  • Osage Nation (Oklahoma) 
  • Jicarilla Apache (New Mexico)

Currently there is no tribal UIC permitting activity in Texas, Louisiana, or Arkansas.

Class II injection well owners and operators planning injection activities on tribal lands in EPA Region 6 must submit an injection well application package.

Owners or operators planning to operate a Class II injection well on tribal lands in EPA Region 6, except on Osage Nation land, should contact Chris Tingey (tingey.christopher@epa.gov) for an application package.

For wells to be located on Osage Nation land, owners and operators should access the permit application directly from the Osage Nation.

Osage Nation underground injection control well application package Exit

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