Underground Injection Control Regulations in Environmental Protection Agency's Region 1, Comprising Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
In the New England region, the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program is primarily overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1, as stated in a recent report. This is because the states in this region, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, generally do not have primary enforcement authority for UIC programs.
The EPA's role is crucial in ensuring the safety and protection of drinking water sources, as the UIC program falls under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The SDWA sets federal standards to prevent injection activities that could potentially endanger drinking water sources, with the EPA as the default regulator unless states receive primacy delegation, which is not typical in Region 1.
For those seeking more information about the federal UIC regulations, Stafford Madison at [our website](http://www.epa.gov) is the point of contact. For state-specific questions about UIC programs, residents can refer to the table below:
| New England State | UIC Primacy Enforcement Authority | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Connecticut | EPA Region 1 | | Maine | EPA Region 1 | | Massachusetts | EPA Region 1 | | New Hampshire | EPA Region 1 | | Rhode Island | EPA Region 1 | | Vermont | EPA Region 1 |
For tribal lands in Region 1, the EPA maintains primacy enforcement authority for UIC wells, as tribal programs typically do not have delegated primacy for UIC enforcement.
The EPA Region 1 office can be reached via phone at 617-918-1993, fax at 617-918-0993, or by mail at 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Mail Code: OEP06-02, Boston, MA 02109-3912.
In addition, each state has a designated department responsible for managing the UIC program. These include the Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection, Water Permitting and Enforcement Division, the Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management's Office of Water Resources, the Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation's Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division, and others.
Most UIC wells in New England are Class V wells, which are used for injecting non-hazardous fluids underground, primarily for disposing of wastes into or above underground sources of drinking water. It is essential to manage these wells properly to maintain drinking water quality.
Notably, there are no Class I, II, III, or VI wells in Region 1, and the EPA does not oversee these types of wells in the region.
For specific questions about a Class V well in a specific state, residents are advised to contact the relevant state agency as listed in the table above. For more information about tribal underground injection control programs in New England states, contact Stafford Madison at [our website](http://www.epa.gov).
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 is in charge of enforcing the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program in the New England region, as stated in a recent report, due to the states' lack of primary enforcement authority.
- The EPA's role is significant in ensuring the safety and protection of drinking water sources, as the UIC program falls under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
- For those seeking information about federal UIC regulations, Stafford Madison at the EPA's website is the point of contact. For state-specific questions about UIC programs, residents can refer to the table provided.
- Tribal lands in Region 1 are under the EPA's primacy enforcement authority for UIC wells, as tribal programs typically do not have delegated primacy for UIC enforcement.
- Most UIC wells in New England are Class V wells, used for injecting non-hazardous fluids underground, primarily disposing of waste into or above underground sources of drinking water. It is essential to manage these wells properly to maintain drinking water quality.
- The EPA does not oversee Class I, II, III, or VI wells in the Region 1, and residents are advised to contact the relevant state agency as listed in the table above for specific questions about a Class V well in a specific state. For more information about tribal underground injection control programs, contact Stafford Madison at the EPA's website.
