Recent Revisions to the New
Mexico
Water Quality Control
Commission (WQCC)
Regulations for UIC Wells
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recently revised the federal UIC regulations to specifically prohibit motor
vehicle waste disposal wells and large capacity cesspools. These Class V
wells have been banned because they are likely to contaminate ground water with
pollutants that are known to be hazardous to human health. Federal law
required New Mexico to also ban these wells to retain primacy for administration
of the UIC Program. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) recently
revised the WQCC Regulations to accommodate the EPA's changes. The revised
regulations, which became effective December 1, 2001, prohibit Class V motor
vehicle waste disposal wells, large capacity cesspools, Class IV wells, and
Class I hazardous and radioactive waste disposal wells. The regulation
changes also define construction and closure notification requirements for all
UIC wells.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO THE
REGULATIONS:
- Addition of definitions for UIC wells as
required by EPA.
- Classification of various types of UIC
wells in accordance with the EPA's classification system.
- Clarification of Notice of Intent
requirements for all UIC wells.
- Prohibition of certain UIC well
activities, including Class V motor vehicle waste disposal wells, large
capacity cesspools, Class I Hazardous and Radioactive Waste Injection wells,
and Class IV wells.
- Establishment of a December 2002
deadline for closure of existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells and large
capacity cesspools as required by EPA.
- Description of pre-closure notification
and closure requirements for all UIC wells.
BENEFITS OF REGULATION CHANGES:
- New Mexico retains primacy of the UIC
program.
- NMED has clear authority to investigate
and close existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells and large capacity
cesspools, which have been documented sources of ground water
contamination.
- NMED's requirements for notification of
UIC well construction and closure are clearer for the regulated
community.
- New notification requirements will
provide a more thorough inventory of UIC wells and potential ground water
contaminant sources.
NMED
is able to better protect ground water quality in New
Mexico.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If you have questions about the recent
regulation changes or notification and closure requirements for UIC wells,
please contact:
Karen Menetrey, UIC Program
Coordinator
NMED Ground Water Quality Bureau
1190 St. Francis Dr., P.O. Box
26110
Santa
Fe, New Mexico 87502
phone: (505) 827-2936, fax: (505) 827-2965
Return to UIC
Program
Return to Ground Water
Quality Bureau Page
Return to NMED Main Page
Last updated 4/16/02.
Please report any problems with this
page to: Karen
Menetrey