Opinion ID: 614603
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Idaho's Permit Requirement as a Part of the SDWA

Text: King further contends that he cannot be convicted under federal law for violating Idaho's permitting system because it is not part of an applicable underground injection program within the meaning of § 300h-2(b)(2). In King's view, the Idaho UIC program has a greater scope than the SDWA. He points to 40 C.F.R. § 145.1(g)(2), which provides, Where an approved State program has a greater scope of coverage than required by Federal law the additional coverage is not part of the federally approved program. King contends that the requirements for obtaining a permit under Idaho law encompass more than just the absence of adverse effects on an USDW, and that the Idaho permitting program is therefore not entirely within the scope of the SDWA. We disagree. When the federal government approved Idaho's UIC program, it specifically incorporated Idaho's entire permitting process into the SDWA: Incorporation by reference. The requirements set forth in the State statutes and regulations cited in this paragraph are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of the applicable UIC program under the SDWA for the State of Idaho. . . . . . . (7) Waste Disposal and Injection Wells, Title 42, Chapter 39, Idaho Code, sections 42-3901 through 42-3914 (Bobbs-Merrill 1977), sections 42-3915 through 42-3919 (Supp.1984). 40 C.F.R. § 147.650(a). The reference in § 147.650(a)(7) to specific provisions of Idaho law, including those applicable to permitting, make clear that the entire Idaho permitting process was approved and incorporated into the SDWA.