[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 1007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-233]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6215-7]


Call for Peer Reviewers and Data on Aquifer Storage and Recovery 
Wells, Aquifer Recharge Wells, Saline Intrusion Barrier Wells, 
Subsidence Control Wells, and Aquifer Remediation Injection Wells; 
Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class V Study

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Call for peer review nominations; request for scientific 
information.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting 
nominations of qualified candidates for peer review committees 
addressing reports on Class V Underground Injection Control (UIC) 
Wells. We are also seeking supplementary information, studies, and 
research pertaining to Aquifer Recharge and ASR Wells.

DATES: Please submit information and nominations by February 1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit to: Ms. Amber Moreen; USEPA; 401 M St., SW (4606); 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 260-4891; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anhar Karimjee; Class V Study 
Manager; USEPA; 401 M St., SW (4606); Washington, DC 20460; telephone: 
(202) 260-3862; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A study of Underground Injection Control 
Class V wells is being conducted to satisfy a consent decree with the 
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. The decree requires that a study of all 
Class V wells not currently slated for regulation be completed by 
September 1999. The results of the study will be used to help the 
Agency determine whether to regulate each subclass of Class V well and 
propose any necessary regulations by April 2001. Wells for which we are 
seeking experts and information include:
    (1) Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Wells are used to inject 
fluids for later recovery and use. These wells may have a secondary 
purpose such as aquifer recharge. EPA is drafting reports which 
summarize the available information on these wells.
    (2) Aquifer Recharge Wells are used to inject fluids to recharge an 
aquifer. These wells may have secondary purposes such as saline 
intrusion prevention, subsidence control, or aquifer storage and 
recovery (ASR).
    (3) Saline Intrusion Barrier Wells are used to inject fluids to 
prevent the intrusion of salt water into an aquifer. These wells may 
have secondary purposes such as aquifer recharge.
    (4) Subsidence Control Wells are used to control land subsidence 
caused by ground water withdrawal, or over pumping of oil and gas. 
These wells may have secondary purposes such as aquifer recharge.
    (5) Aquifer Remediation Wells are used to clean up, treat, or 
prevent contamination of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). 
Treated ground water (pump and treat), bioremediation agents, or other 
recovery enhancement materials may be injected into the subsurface via 
Class V wells. These wells may be associated with RCRA or CERCLA 
projects.

Nomination of Peer Reviewers

    EPA is drafting reports which summarize the available information 
on these wells. We anticipate that these reports will be from 25 to 40 
pages long. The peer reviewers will comment on the technical accuracy 
and completeness of the draft documents addressing the subclass of 
injection well. Selection for peer reviewers will be based on 
demonstrated capability and professional accomplishment in the 
indicated area of specialization, in the conduct or management of 
scientific or engineering research and in applying research to ground 
water issues. Nominations must include a resume describing the 
educational and professional qualifications of the nominee and the 
nominee's current address and daytime telephone number. To avoid 
conflicts of interest, candidates should provide their previous 
employment and any financial or other interests that could possibly be 
relevant to the study.

Submission of Information

    The UIC program is providing an opportunity for public involvement. 
While the Agency has drafted a report on these wells, there may be 
other articles or unpublished studies of which we are not aware. The 
Agency would greatly appreciate receiving scientific information from 
the public. The most useful documents for EPA are unpublished studies 
or other primary technical sources that we may not otherwise obtain 
through open literature searches. For a list of articles and studies 
included in the current report, please consult http://www.epa.gov/
ogwdw/uic/cl5study.html. Also note, if you have submitted information 
previously there is no need to resubmit that information.
    Interested persons should provide a list briefly describing 
scientific comments, analyses, studies, and other pertinent scientific 
information they wish to submit. Where possible, documents should be 
listed in scientific citation format, that is, author(s), title, 
journal, and date. Please note that the correspondence is a Class V 
Study Submission, the well subclass it pertains to, and include names, 
addresses, and telephone numbers of persons to contact for additional 
information on the submission. The submission should be mailed to the 
aforementioned address or submitted electronically to 
[email protected]. Information will also be accepted on 
3.5'' floppy disks.

    Dated: December 28, 1998.
Elizabeth Fellows,
Acting, Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, 
Environmental Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 99-233 Filed 1-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P