The Underground Injection Control (UIC) program is implemented by Federal, state, and local governments that oversee underground injection activities in order to prevent contamination of underground sources of drinking water. Underground injection is the technology of disposing of fluids beneath the earth's surface in porous rock formations through wells or other similar conveyance systems.

When wells are properly sited, constructed, and operated, underground injection is an effective and environmentally safe method to dispose of fluids. The Safe Drinking Water Act established the UIC program to provide safeguards so that injection wells do not endanger current and future underground sources of drinking water. The most accessible underground fresh water is stored in shallow geological formations (i.e., shallow aquifers) and is the most vulnerable to contamination.

EPA provides financial assistance in the form of grants to states that have primary enforcement authority (primacy) to implement and maintain UIC programs. Eligible Indian tribes who demonstrate intent to achieve primacy may also receive a grant for the initial development of UIC programs and be designated for treatment as a "state" if their programs are approved. Where a jurisdiction is unable or unwilling to assume primacy, EPA uses grant funds for direct implementation of Federal UIC requirements. (See http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/index.html for more information.)

approximately 700,000 shallow injection wells (Class V) nationwide remains a top priority for the Agency's UIC program.

EPA will continue to carry out its regulatory functions for all well types with states and stakeholders. The Agency will also continue working with states and tribes to: educate and assist underground injection control well operators of all classes of UIC wells; work with stakeholders to collect and evaluate data on high priority endangering Class V wells; and explore best management practices for protecting ground water resources used for drinking water.

The PART measures directly related to the UIC program are still under development.

The states are the primary implementers of the national drinking water program and ensure that the systems within their jurisdiction are in compliance with drinking water rules.

EPA has developed annual measures for the UIC Program that support the long-term targets. These measures are indicators of the effectiveness of the UIC Program in preventing contamination of underground sources of drinking water (USDWS) and protecting public health. Based on preliminary data collected for FY 2005, these measures are already showing public health protection from EPA's UIC Program.

In FY 2005, EPA and the states determined that 98 percent of Class I, II wells and Class III salt solution mining wells maintained mechanical integrity. Mechanical integrity tests are conducted by UIC programs to insure that fluids injected through the well go into the injection zone and do not leak into the well bore, or outside the well into other formations or USDWS. The program will continue to conduct mechanical integrity tests regularly to prevent contamination of drinking water resources.

By 2005, EPA and states will have closed or permitted 70 percent of identified Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal (MVWD) wells (Class V). In a parallel effort, UIC programs are actively identifying previously unidentified Class V wells. Through this effort, hundreds of MVWD wells have been identified. EPA and states will continue to identify and close or permit MVWD wells and are on track to meet the 2008 target of 100 percent of the MVWD wells closed or permitted.

FY 2007 Change from FY 2006 Enacted Budget (Dollars in Thousands):

(+$52.0) This increase will support oversight of underground injection activities.

Statutory Authority:

SDWA.

EPA provides funding to states, Tribes, and/or Intertribal Consortia through the Underground Storage Tanks (UST) categorical grants to encourage owners and operators to properly operate and maintain their USTs. In FY 2007, EPA will make grants or cooperative agreements to states for new activities authorized by the Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2005 (USTCA). In addition, EPA will use funds for direct implementation of release detection or release prevention (spill, overfill, and corrosion protection requirements) programs on Tribal lands when EPA is legally responsible for carrying out the UST program.

EPA recognizes that the size and diversity of the regulated community puts state authorities in the best position to regulate USTs and to set priorities. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/overview.htm. Major activities focus on ensuring that owners and operators routinely and correctly monitor all regulated tanks and piping in accordance with UST regulations and developing state programs with sufficient authority and enforcement capabilities to operate in lieu of the Federal program. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/OUST /fedlaws/cfr.htm. This grant funding may be used in Performance Partnership Agreements with states and Tribes. A state or Tribe could elect to consolidate this and other categorical media grants into one or more multimedia or single media grant. The state or Tribe could then target its most pressing environmental problems and use the performance partnership grant for a number of activities including pollution control, abatement, and enforcement.

Prior to FY 2007, EPA provided funding to states under the authority of Section 2007(f)(2) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), and to Federally recognized Tribes, and/or Intertribal Consortia under Public Law 105-276 through the UST categorical grants for release detection and release prevention activities to encourage owners and operators to properly operate and maintain their underground storage tanks. In FY 2007, EPA will make grants or cooperative agreements for new activities authorized by the USTCA, which was enacted as Title XV, Subtitle B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that are not otherwise provided for in Section 2007 of the SWDA. EPA will not use STAG funds for leaking underground storage tank cleanup activities that are authorized by Section 205 of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, even if those activities are also authorized by the USTCA.

FY 2007 Activities and Performance Plan:

In FY 2007, EPA will continue to assist states and Tribes in implementing the UST program and will provide assistance to states to help them meet their new responsibilities authorized under the USTCA (e.g., performing additional inspections so that tanks are inspected every three years, developing operator training requirements, prohibiting fuel deliveries at non-compliant UST facilities, requiring secondary containment for new and replaced tanks and piping or financial responsibility for tank installers and manufacturers); ensuring owners and operators routinely and correctly monitor all regulated USTS and piping in accordance with regulations; (see http://www.epa.gov/OUST/ustsystm/tanko&m.htm). EPA has the primary responsibility for implementation of the UST Program in Indian Country. Grants under P.L. 105-276 will continue to help Tribes develop the capacity to administer UST programs. For example, funding is used to support training for Tribal staff, educate owners and operators in Indian Country about UST requirements, and maintain information on USTs located in Indian Country.

In FY 2007, through its compliance activities, the program will strive to maintain the number of confirmed releases at UST facilities to 10,000 or fewer. The actual number of confirmed releases in FY 2005 was 7,421.

At the end of FY 2005, EPA exceeded its goal of a one percent increase of UST facilities in operational compliance with both release detection and release prevention (spill, overfill, and corrosion protection) requirements by achieving a two percent increase (from 64 percent at the

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Memorandum, FY 2005 Semi-Annual End-of-Year Activity Report, from Cliff Rothenstein, Director, Office of Underground Storage Tanks to UST/LUST Regional Division Directors, Regions 1-10, dated December 15, 2005. See http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/cat/ca 05 34.pdf