[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 19]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR146.13]

[Page 705-706]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 146--UNDERGROUND INJECTION CONTROL PROGRAM: CRITERIA AND STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
      Subpart B--Criteria and Standards Applicable to Class I Wells
 
Sec. 146.13  Operating, monitoring and reporting requirements.

    (a) Operating requirements. Operating requirements shall at a 
minimum, specify that:
    (1) Except during stimulation injection pressure at the wellhead 
shall not exceed a maximum which shall be calculated so as to assure 
that the pressure in the injection zone during injection does not 
initiate new fractures or propagate existing fractures in the injection 
zone. In no case shall injection pressure initiate fractures in the 
confining zone or cause the movement of injection or formation fluids 
into an underground source of drinking water.
    (2) Injection between the outermost casing protecting underground 
sources of drinking water and the well bore is prohibited.
    (3) Unless an alternative to a packer has been approved under 
Sec. 146.12(c), the annulus between the tubing and the long string of 
casings shall be filled with a fluid approved by the Director

[[Page 706]]

and a pressure, also approved by the Director, shall be maintained on 
the annulus.
    (b) Monitoring requirements. Monitoring requirements shall, at a 
minimum, include:
    (1) The analysis of the injected fluids with sufficient frequency to 
yield representative data of their characteristics;
    (2) Installation and use of continuous recording devices to monitor 
injection pressure, flow rate and volume, and the pressure on the 
annulus between the tubing and the long string of casing;
    (3) A demonstration of mechanical integrity pursuant to Sec. 146.8 
at least once every five years during the life of the well; and
    (4) The type, number and location of wells within the area of review 
to be used to monitor any migration of fluids into and pressure in the 
underground sources of drinking water, the parameters to be measured and 
the frequency of monitoring.
    (c) Reporting requirements. Reporting requirements shall, at a 
minimum, include:
    (1) Quarterly reports to the Director on:
    (i) The physical, chemical and other relevant characteristics of 
injection fluids;
    (ii) Monthly average, maximum and minimum values for injection 
pressure, flow rate and volume, and annular pressure; and
    (iii) The results of monitoring prescribed under paragraph (b)(4) of 
this section.
    (2) Reporting the results, with the first quarterly report after the 
completion, of:
    (i) Periodic tests of mechanical integrity;
    (ii) Any other test of the injection well conducted by the permittee 
if required by the Director; and
    (iii) Any well work over.
    (d) Ambient monitoring. (1) Based on a site-specific assessment of 
the potential for fluid movement from the well or injection zone and on 
the potential value of monitoring wells to detect such movement, the 
Director shall require the owner or operator to develop a monitoring 
program. At a minimum, the Director shall require monitoring of the 
pressure buildup in the injection zone annually, including at a minimum, 
a shut down of the well for a time sufficient to conduct a valid 
observation of the pressure fall-off curve.
    (2) When prescribing a monitoring system the Director may also 
require:
    (i) Continuous monitoring for pressure changes in the first aquifer 
overlying the confining zone. When such a well is installed, the owner 
or operator shall, on a quarterly basis, sample the aquifer and analyze 
for constituents specified by the Director;
    (ii) The use of indirect, geophysical techniques to determine the 
position of the waste front, the water quality in a formation designated 
by the Director, or to provide other site specific data;
    (iii) Periodic monitoring of the ground water quality in the first 
aquifer overlying the injection zone;
    (iv) Periodic monitoring of the ground water quality in the 
lowermost USDW; and
    (v) Any additional monitoring necessary to determine whether fluids 
are moving into or between USDWs.

[45 FR 42500, June 24, 1980, as amended at 46 FR 43162, Aug. 27, 1981; 
47 FR 32129, July 26, 1982; 53 FR 28148, July 26, 1988]