United States Office of Water EPA 816-F-00-029
Environmental Protection (4606) January 2000
Agency www.epa.gov/safewater

SEPA The Class V Rule

A Quick Reference Guide for Regulators

Title of Rule Revisions to the Underground Injection Control Regulations for Class V Wells
64 FR 68545-68573, December 7, 1999.

Purpose: Prevent contamination of underground sources of drinking water by limiting injection of
wastes through Class V wells.

Ceacimesseannemes Adds requirements for two sub-categories of Class V wells: large-capacity cesspools and
motor vehicle waste disposal wells. Links Class V program to source water assessment program.

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Rule Requirements

Large-capacity cesspools Motor vehicle waste disposal wells
Definition: typically dry wells that receive sanitary waste from multiple Definition: receive or have received fluids from vehicular repairs or
dwellings and community or regional establishments. maintenance activities, such as auto body repair, automotive repair, car
dealerships, or other vehicular repair work.
* New large-capacity cesspools banned nationwide as of April 5, 2000 New motor vehicle waste disposal wells banned nationwide as of
— c F April 5, 2000
Existing large-capacity cesspools closed by April 5, 2005
Existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells banned in regulated
© Owners or operators notify the UIC Program Director 30 days areas. States may allow owners and operators to seek a waiver

prior to closing their large-capacity cesspool from the ban and obtain a permit.

Owners or operators notify the UIC Program Director 30 days
prior to closing their well

Minimum permit requirements for existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells

1. Fluids must meet Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) and other health-based standards at point of injection.

2. Best Management Practices must be specified.
3. Monitoring requirements must be specified to characterize the quality of the injectate and sludge, both initially and on an ongoing basis.

Requirements for existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells would be phased-in as follows:

First - in source water protection areas for community and non-transient non-community water systems that use ground water as a source of drinking
water. These areas are being delineated and assessed as required by 1453 of the Safe Drinking Water Act and are called ground water protection areas.

Second - in other sensitive ground water areas that States identify as being crucial for protecting underground sources of drinking water. These areas
may include areas overlying sole source aquifers, karst aquifers, or other sensitive or vulnerable hydrogeologic settings such as glacial outwash
deposits, eolian sands and fractured bedrock.

If a State does not complete its assessments for ground water protection areas or delineate other sensitive ground water areas by January 1, 2004, the
rule requirements apply statewide.


More Revisions...

> Changes to the UIC regulations New or modified definitions
© Consolidates Class V requirements into Subpart G © Point of injection ¢ Improved sinkhole
 Reclassifies Class V radioactive waste disposal wells that inject © Septic system © Sanitary waste
below the lowermost USDW as Class | wells. © Drywell © Well
© Allows States to rule authorize Class IV wells used for CERCLA © Subsurface fluid distribution system © Well injection
and RCRA cleanup sites.
Implementation Schedule
For States and Regions For Owners and Operators
04/05/00 Effective date of the rule. New large-capacity 04/05/00 Effective date of the rule. New large-capacity

cesspools and new motor vehicle waste
disposal wells are banned.

cesspools and new motor vehicle waste
disposal wells are banned.

12/29/00 All complete primacy revision packages Close all existing large-capacity cesspools.
submitted to EPA.
Close motor vehicle waste disposal well or
comply with permit conditions within one year
of the completion of local assessment for a
ground water protection area.

Ongoing Assessments completed in ground water
protection areas and rule implemented in these
areas within one year after local assessments
are complete.

01/01/07 Close motor vehicle waste disposal well or
comply with permit conditions in other
sensitive ground water areas.**

All assessments for ground water protection
areas* completed and other sensitive ground
water areasTM* delineated.

01/01/05 Rule implemented in all ground water
protection areas.”

01/01/07 Rule implemented in other sensitive ground
water areas.*

States complete assessments of ground
water protection areas and delineate other
sensitive ground water areas

rs

o/o in other sensitive

If assessments of ground ground water areas must
water protection areas are comply by 1/2007 (may
y not completed", rule applies receive one year extension)
statewide

o/o in ground water protection areas must comply -
in one year (may receive one year extension) o/o statewide must comply by 1/2005
(may receive one year extension)

If other sensitive ground WES o/o statewide must comply by 1/2007
areas are not delineatedTM*, (may receive one year extension)
rule applies statewide

* State may receive one year extension if making reasonable progress in completing assessments. States must apply for extension by 6/2003. If States receive extension but do not
complete assessments by 1/2008, rule applies statewide and o/o must comply by 1/2006 (may receive one year extension).

* State may receive one year extension if making reasonable progress in delineating other sensitive ground water areas. States must apply for extension by 6/2003. If States receive
extension but do not complete delineation by 1/2005, rule applies statewide and o/o must comply by 1/2008 (may not receive one year extension).