GROUND WATER PROTECTION COUNCIL

 RESOLUTION 04-1

REGARDING THE CLASS V PROGRAM

WHEREAS, U.S. Congress enacted Part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to regulate underground injection of fluids by well so as to safeguard the integrity of the sources of drinking water supplies of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the USEPA finalized Federal minimum rule revisions to the UIC Regulations for Class V Wells (64 FR 68545-68575) December 7, 1999 , and

WHEREAS, the rule calls for revisions to State Class V regulations to maintain minimum requirements under the revised rule, and

WHEREAS, such changes are considered “significant rule changes”, and

WHEREAS, the State-specific requirements for the implementation of the revised rule will require additional resources, and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Congress and  USEPA has expectations for inventory reporting for Class V wells, and

WHEREAS, federal funding for state UIC programs has remained at $10.5 million for all 5 well classes since 1988, and

WHEREAS, historically the $10.5 million UIC funding has been insufficient to support the program, and

WHEREAS, EPA has separately acknowledged that there is insufficient funding for the Class V program, and

WHEREAS, no additional resources are being directed to States for adoption and implementation of 1999 rule revisions, reporting measures, or Class V inventories, and

WHEREAS, the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) and States estimate that an additional $56 million are needed annually to implement the required Class V UIC program, and

WHEREAS, the GWPC is an association of State administrators of ground water protection programs including the UIC programs, now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the GWPC encourages U.S. Congress and the USEPA to request in their budget and direct additional resources to States for the purpose of implementing the Class V UIC Program.

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Passed by the Board

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Attest