Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/19/2017-10001/state-of-north-dakota-underground-injection-control-program-class-vi-primacy-approval
Timestamp: 2018-04-24 02:11:05
Document Index: 784471698

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 145', 'art 145', 'arts 124', 'art 147', 'art 147', 'art 147', '§\u2009147', '§\u20091422', 'art 51']

A Proposed Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 05/19/2017
22949-22952 (4 pages)
Requirements for State UIC Programs
III. North Dakota's Application
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-10001 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-10001
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2013-0280, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system).
Lisa McWhirter, Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4606M), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-2317; fax number: (202) 564-3754; email address: mcwhirter.lisa@epa.gov or Douglas Minter, Underground Injection Control Unit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, 1595 Wynkoop Street, MSC 8WP-SUI, Denver, Colorado 80202; telephone number: (303) 312-6079; fax number: (303) 312-7084; email address: minter.douglas@epa.gov.
The state of North Dakota received primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) for Class I, III, IV and V injection wells under SDWA section 1422 on October 5, 1984, and Class II injection wells under SDWA section 1425 on September 24, 1983. The state of North Dakota has applied to the EPA under SDWA section 1422, 42 U.S.C. sections 300h-1, for primacy for Class VI injection wells, except those located on Indian lands. This action is based on a legal and technical review of the state of North Dakota's application as directed in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR part 145. As a result of this review, EPA is proposing that the state of North Dakota's application meets all applicable requirements for approval under SDWA section 1422, and the state is capable of administering a Class VI UIC program in a manner consistent with the terms and purposes of SDWA and all applicable regulations.
For states that seek approval for UIC programs under SDWA section 1422, the EPA has promulgated a regulation setting forth the applicable procedures and substantive requirements, codified in 40 CFR part 145. It includes requirements for state permitting programs (by reference to certain provisions of 40 CFR parts 124 and 144), compliance evaluation programs, Start Printed Page 22950enforcement authority, and information sharing.
On June 21, 2013, the state of North Dakota submitted a program revision application to add Class VI injection wells to its SDWA section 1422 UIC program. The EPA reviewed the application and published a Federal Register document of North Dakota's Underground Injection Control Program Revision Application on August 9, 2013 (78 FR 48639), which sought public comments and provided an opportunity to request a public hearing. Public notice of North Dakota's application was also published in the Bismarck Tribune on August 9, 2013.
On August 9, 2013, a document announcing North Dakota's Underground Injection Control Program Revision was published in the Federal Register (78 FR 48639) and in the Bismarck Tribune. This document provided that a public hearing would be held if requested. The agency did not receive any requests for a public hearing and received five written comments. Two comments were outside the scope of the state's application and three comments were focused on the Memorandum of Agreement between Region 8 and the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The EPA worked with the Commission to address these comments and revise the Memorandum of Agreement.
In this action, the EPA is proposing that the state of North Dakota's Class VI UIC program will assume primary enforcement authority (primacy) for regulating Class VI injection wells in the state, except for those located on Indian lands. Support of this action is part of the public record in EPA's Docket No. EPA-HQ-OW-2013-0280. When finalized, this action will amend 40 CFR part 147 and incorporate by reference the EPA-approved state statutes and regulations. The EPA will continue to administer its UIC program for Class I, II, III, IV, V and VI injection wells on Indian lands.
The provisions of the state of North Dakota's Code that contain standards, requirements, and procedures applicable to owners or operators of Class VI UIC wells will be incorporated by reference into 40 CFR 147.1751. Provisions of the state of North Dakota's Code that contain standards, requirements, and procedures applicable to owners or operators of Class I, III, IV and V injection wells have already been incorporated by reference into 40 CFR 147.1751. Any provisions incorporated by reference, as well as all permit conditions or permit denials issued pursuant to such provisions, will be enforceable by the EPA pursuant to SDWA section 1423 and 40 CFR 147.1(e).
In order to better serve the public, the EPA is reformatting the codification of the EPA-approved North Dakota SDWA section 1422 Underground Injection Control Program Statutes and Regulations for Well Classes I, III, IV, V and VI. Instead of codifying the North Dakota Statutes and Regulations as separate paragraphs, the EPA is now codifying a binder that contains the EPA-approved North Dakota Statutes and Regulations for Well Classes I, III, IV, V and VI. This binder will be incorporated by reference into part 147. The EPA has made, and will continue to make, these documents available electronically through http://www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at the appropriate EPA office (see the ADDRESSES section of this preamble for more information).
The EPA will continue to oversee the state of North Dakota's administration of the SDWA Class VI program. Part of the EPA's oversight responsibility will require quarterly reports of non-compliance and annual UIC performance reports pursuant to 40 CFR144.8. The Memorandum of Agreement between the EPA and the state of North Dakota, signed by the Regional Administrator on October 28, 2013, provides the EPA with the opportunity to review and comment on all permits.
This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between the national Start Printed Page 22951government and the states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
1. The authority citation for part 147 is amended to read as follows:
2. Amend § 147.1751 by revising the section heading, introductory text and paragraph (a) and adding paragraphs (e) through (h) to read as follows:
The UIC program for Class I, III, IV, and V wells in the state of North Dakota, except those located on Indian lands, is the program administered by the North Dakota Department of Health, approved by EPA pursuant to SDWA section 1422. Notice of this approval was published in the Federal Register on September 21, 1984; the effective date of this program is October 5, 1984. The UIC Program for Class VI wells in the state of North Dakota, except those located on Indian lands, is the program administered by the North Dakota Industrial Commission, approved by the EPA pursuant to SDWA section 1422. Notice of this approval was published in the Federal Register on [DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE IN THE Federal Register]; the effective date of this program is [DATE 90 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE IN THE Federal Register]. This program consists of the following elements, as submitted to the EPA in the state's program revision application.
(a) Incorporation by reference. The requirements set forth in the state statutes and regulations cited in the binder entitled “EPA-Approved North Dakota SDWA § 1422 Underground Injection Control Program Statutes and Regulations for Well Classes I, III, IV, V and VI”, dated December 2013, and Table 1 to paragraph (a) of this section are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of the applicable UIC program under SDWA for the state of North Dakota. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of the North Dakota regulations that are incorporated by reference in paragraph (a) of this section may be inspected at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Library 2nd Floor, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202; Water Docket, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). If you wish to obtain materials from the EPA Regional Office, please call (303) 312-1226; for materials from a docket in the EPA Headquarters Library, please call the Water Docket at (202) 566-2426. For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/​federal_​register/​code_​of_​federal_​regulations/​ibr_​locations.html.
North Dakota Administrative Code Sections 43-02-02-01—43-02-02-50 Subsurface Mineral Exploration and Development 1986 March 6, 1991, 56 FR 9418.
Start Printed Page 22952
North Dakota Century Code Sections 38-22-01—38-22-23 Carbon Dioxide Underground Storage 2009 [Insert new FR date and #].
North Dakota Administrative Code Sections 38-08-16—38-08-17 Control of Oil and Gas Resources 2013 [Insert new FR date and #].
North Dakota Administrative Code Sections 43-05-01-01—43-05-01-20 Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide 2013 [Insert new FR date and #].
(g) Statement of Legal Authority: “Class VI Underground Injection Control Program, Attorney General's Statement,” signed by the Attorney General of North Dakota on January 22, 2013.
[FR Doc. 2017-10001 Filed 5-18-17; 8:45 am]