(GP/GT) for Additional Water Supply in the Lower Rio Grande

Federal Requirements
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Federal and State Laws
The Safe Drinking Water Act makes specific provisions for protecting underground
drinking water sources. The new federal law set up. for the first time. provisions for
controlling underground injection practices. It is the Intent of Congress that the states have
the responsibility for primary enforcement of the Act.
Congress. during the formulation of the Safe Drinking Water Act In 1~74. recognized the
need for protection of underground drinking water sources from contamination from
underground Injection. and the need for effective stflte regulatory measures. Therefore. It
directed the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop underground Injection
regulations with which to guide states In establishing their own programs. The Act provides
that if a state does not adopt a program consistent with federal reqUirements. then the EPA
must develop and Implement the program in the state.
The main points which the EPA regulations sought to convey to the states were: (1) to
Identify underground sources of drinking water and define what constituted endangerment
of these sources; (2) to direct the states to set up their own underground Injection control
programs to protect these dIink1ngwat~rsources; (3) to describe the requirements of such
programs and permit systems: (4) to set forth procedures to assure enforcement of these
requirements by the states orby the federal government If the states fall to do so; and (5) to
llstconstruction. permitting. operating. monitoring and reporting requirements for specific
types of wells.
Underground Injection - What Is It?
Underground injection Is the Introduction of water. gas or other fluid into an
underground stratum by Injection down a well. It is a complex and costly technology;
however. It Is a very useful technique with many applications and has become a practical
solUtion to some very difficult disposal and storage problems.
The p~'oductlon of oil and gas frequently Is accompanied by salt water. and disposal of the
salt water has always been somewhat of a problem. Underground Injection has been used
extensively to dispose of salt water and gradually. due largely to the enactment of
environmental laws designed to protect surface waters from pollution. it carne into favor for
the disposal of industrial wastes as well.
F1uld Injection wells are used for four major operations: (1) PRESSURE MAINTENANCE.
to introduce a fluid Into a producing formation to maintain underground pressures which
would otherwise be reduced by virtue of the production of oil and/or gas; (2) CYCLING or
RECYCLING. to Introduce residue gas Into a formation after liquefiable hydrocarbons have
been extracted from gas produced from the formation; (3) SECONDARY RECOVERY
operations. to introduce a flUid to decrease the viscosity of 011. reduce Its surface tension.
lighten Its specific gravity. and/or to drive oUlnto producing wells. resulting in greater
production of oil; and (4) TERTIARY RECOVERY operations. to Introduce chemicals or
energy as required for displacement and for the control of flow rate and flow pattern In the
reservoir.
(NOTE: For federal Income tax purposes. Injectlon wells may be treated as part of
production, and costs of dIilllng maybe capitalized or deducted as intangibles. Ref: Burke
and Bowhoy, "Income Taxation of Natural Resources", Sec. 14.13. and 15.21 (1981).]
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