The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Underground Injection Control Program (UIC) is part of the EPA's Safety Drinking Water Act. One component of the UIC Program is the regulation of shallow onsite disposal systems, also refered to as Class V injection wells ( 40 CFR Part 144). The intent of this regulation is to prevent groundwater contamination from Class V wells by ensuring that well owners are aware of their wells and that these wells are designed and used appropriately. Examples of Class V wells include: dry wells, septic systems with tanks and leach fields, cesspools, etc.
Under the UIC Program, facilaties are required to provide EPA with inventory information on underground injections wells present at their facility including information on the location, type and nature of the injection activity. UIC Inventories are currently maintained and have been submitted to the EPA for the University's Syracuse Campus and its Minnowbrook Conference Center located in the Adirondacks.
To ensure compliance with the UIC regulations, any proposed new underground injection well (septic systems, dry wells, etc.) must be reviewed by the Environmental Health Office prior to installation. EHO will update the UIC Inventory accordingly to reflect the additional well. EHO must also be notified following the removal of existing well from active service and upon the discovery of a well not previously identified or included on the UIC Inventory.
