[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8235]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Financial Assistance Award: Underground Injection Practices 
Research Foundation

AGENCY: Department of Energy, Metairie Site Office.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), Metairie Site Office, 
announces that pursuant to 10 CFR 600.7(b)(2)(i) (A) and (D) it intends 
to make a Non-Competitive Financial Assistance Award (Grant) through 
the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center to the Underground Injection 
Practices Research Foundation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
U.S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, 
Acquisition and Assistance Center, P.O. Box 10940, MS 921-118, 
Pittsburgh, PA 15236, Attn.: Mary Beth J. Pearse, Telephone: (412) 892-
4949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The UIPRF has proposed a two-task project 
relating to Class II injection well operations in various states 
throughout the country. Task I of the proposed project is designed to 
extend the implementation of a Risk-Based Data Management System 
(RBDMS) in four states. Alaska, Mississippi, Montana, and Nevada would 
be given assistance with converting data from existing data management 
systems; coding and internal testing of the RBDMS; preparing 
documentation, training, and technology transfer; and project 
management. Task II of the proposed project would offer assistance in 
conducting four regional training seminars related to Area of Review 
(AOR) investigations and environmental compliance.
    The Underground Injection Practices Council (UIPC) was formed in 
1983 to work with various federal agencies, state underground injection 
control (UIC) officials, municipal and county officials, 
representatives of environmental groups, industry, scientists, and 
others on safe and effective methods for waste disposal. The UIPC, 
through its Research Foundation, conducts a comprehensive program of 
original research and data collection and serves as a clearinghouse for 
information on underground injection. The UIPC also conducts a variety 
of educational programs and serves as a forum for the development of 
more sound regulations and technical standards.
    Greater emphasis is currently being placed on the ability of states 
to justify their regulatory decisions, with interest in developing 
reliable procedures for assessing the risks posed by oil and gas 
injection wells increasing rapidly. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 
agencies that implement UIC programs are required to prevent subsurface 
injection that endangers an underground source of drinking water 
(USDW).
    The UIPRF just completed a grant from DOE that involved the 
investigation of state environmental, oil, and gas data, and data 
management systems that pertain to underground injection control. The 
primary goal of this research was to increase the base of technical and 
environmental knowledge related to the application of the UIPRF model 
that has been developed to assess the risk of injection water 
contaminating a USDW. The project involved four major tasks: (1) 
Conducting an inventory and needs assessment of the database management 
systems of the 21 states that have primacy to supplement the UIC 
requirements for Class II wells, (2) conducting investigations of six 
state's data management system capabilities and making hardware and 
software improvements, (3) conducting a Technical Symposium on Class II 
injection wells relating to the application of the UIPRF model that was 
developed to assess risk of injection water contaminating USDWs, and 
(4) conducting investigations of four states' data management system 
capabilities and making hardware and software improvements. Task I of 
the current project proposed by UIPRF seeks to expand upon Task IV of 
the just-completed grant by extending the implementation of the RBDMS 
in four states (Alaska, Mississippi, Montana, and Nebraska). These 
states will be given assistance with converting data from existing data 
management systems, coding and testing RBDMS, preparing documentation, 
and training efforts.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 600.7(b)(2)(i) criteria (A) and (D), a 
noncompetitive Financial Assistance Award to the UIPRF has been 
justified. This effort is a continuation of the just-completed grant 
and opening up a continuation effort to competition would have a 
significant adverse effect on continuity of the activity. The Applicant 
has exclusive domestic capability to perform this activity 
successfully, based upon the unique technical expertise of the UIPRF 
which will ensure maximum utilization of existing state, federal, 
industry and commercial sources of data necessary to complete the 
study. This effort therefore is considered suitable for noncompetitive 
financial assistance and would not be eligible for financial assistance 
under a solicitation, and a competitive solicitation would be 
inappropriate.
    DOE funding for this research is estimated to be $499,745 for the 
duration of the project. These funds will be used to pay for the 
reasonable cost of research staff, administrative support personnel, 
consultants, experts, and printing costs as necessary for the research 
project.

    Dated: March 28, 1994.
Richard D. Rogus,
Contracting Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-8235 Filed 4-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P-M