The Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) this week announced steps to review the state’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program in order to ensure it fully complies with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, designed to prevent waste water associated with oil production from being injected into aquifers containing water suitable for human or agricultural use. DOGGR is conducting the review in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA.) The review will examine both specific, previously approved UIC wells, as well as current approval practices to ensure that they are consistent throughout the state and that injections are done in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. The Division is also reviewing the underlying UIC program rules. Revisions will be considered during this phase of the review process, which is expected to take 12-18 months to complete.
