The UIC program for Class II injection wells in the State of Michigan, except for those in Indian country, is the program administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, approved by EPA pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1425. The effective date of this program is August 29, 2022. Table 1 to paragraph (a) of this section is the table of contents of the Michigan State statutes and regulations incorporated as follows by reference. This program consists of the following elements, as submitted to the EPA in the State's program application.

(a) Incorporation by reference. The requirements set forth in the State's statutes and regulations approved by EPA for inclusion in “EPA-Approved State of Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act § 1425 Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Statutes and Regulations for Class II wells,” dated November 24, 2020, and listed in Table 1 to this paragraph (a), are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of the applicable UIC program under SDWA for the State of Michigan. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of the Michigan regulations and statutes that are incorporated by reference may be inspected at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Docket, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604; or the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division, Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan 48909; telephone number (517) 284-6823. If you wish to obtain materials from the EPA Headquarters in Washington DC, please call the Water Docket at (202) 566-2426 or from the EPA Regional Office, please call (312) 353-2147. You may also inspect the materials at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email [email protected], or go to www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

(b) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The MOA between EPA Region 5 and the State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy signed by the EPA Regional Administrator on October 13, 2020.

(c) Statements of Legal Authority. “Underground Injection Control Program, Attorney General's Statement,” signed by the Chief of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Division of the Michigan Department of Attorney General on September 1, 2020.

(d) Program Description. The Program Description submitted as part of Michigan's application, and any other materials submitted as part of this application or as a supplement thereto.

[87 FR 45255, July 28, 2022]

(a) Contents. The UIC program for Class I, III, IV, V and VI wells and all wells in Indian country in the State of Michigan is administered by the EPA. This program consists of the UIC program requirements of 40 CFR parts 124, 144, 146, 148, and any additional requirements set forth in the remainder of this subpart. Injection well owners and operators, and EPA shall comply with these requirements.

(b) Effective dates. The effective date for the UIC program for all lands in Michigan, including Indian lands, is June 25, 1984.

[52 FR 17681, May 11, 1987, as amended at 56 FR 9416, Mar. 6, 1991; 87 FR 45256, July 28, 2022]

The owner or operator shall limit injection pressure to the lesser of:

(a) A value which will not exceed the operating requirements of § 144.28(f)(3)(i) or (ii) of this chapter as applicable; or

(b) A value for well head pressure calculated by using the following formula:

Pm = (0.800−0.433 Sg)d Where: Pm = injection pressure at the well head in pounds per square inch. Sg = specific gravity of injected fluid (unitless). d = injection depth in feet. [87 FR 45256, July 28, 2022]

(a) Maximum injection pressure. (1) To meet the operating requirements of § 144.28(f)(3)(ii)(A) and (B) of this chapter, the owner or operator:

(i) Shall use an injection pressure no greater than the pressure established by the Regional Administrator for the field or formation in which the well is located. The Regional Administrator shall establish such a maximum pressure after notice, opportunity for comment, and opportunity for a public hearing, according to the provisions of part 124, subpart A, of this chapter, and will inform owners and operators in writing of the applicable maximum pressure; or

(ii) May inject at pressures greater than those specified in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section for the field or formation in which he is operating provided he submits a request in writing to the Regional Administrator and demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Regional Administrator that such injection pressure will not violate the requirements of § 144.28(f)(3)(ii)(A) and (B) of this chapter. The Regional Administrator may grant such a request after notice, opportunity for comment, and opportunity for a public hearing, according to the provisions of part 124, subpart A, of this chapter.

(2) Prior to such time as the Regional Administrator establishes field rules for maximum injection pressure based on data provided pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section the owner or operator shall:

(i) Limit injection pressure to a value which will not exceed the operating requirements of § 144.28(f)(3)(ii) of this chapter; and

(ii) Submit data acceptable to the Regional Administrator, which defines the fracture pressure of the formation in which injection is taking place. A single test may be submitted on behalf of two or more operators conducting operations in the same formation if the Regional Administrator approves such submission. The data shall be submitted to the Regional Administrator within one year following the effective date of this program.

(b) Casing and cementing. Where the Regional Administrator determines that the owner or operator of an existing enhanced recovery or hydrocarbon storage well may not be in compliance with the requirements of §§ 144.28(e) and 146.22 of this chapter, the owner or operator shall comply with paragraphs (b)(1) through (4) of this section, when required by the Regional Administrator:

(1) Protect underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) by:

(i) Cementing surface casing by recirculating the cement to the surface from a point 50 feet below the lowermost USDW; or

(ii) Isolating all USDWs by placing cement between the outermost casing and the well bore; and

(2) Isolate any injection zones by placing sufficient cement to fill the calculated space between the casing and the well bore to a point 250 feet above the injection zone; and

(3) Use cement:

(i) Of sufficient quantity and quality to withstand the maximum operating pressure;

(ii) Which is resistant to deterioration from formation and injection fluids; and

(iii) In a quantity no less than 120% of the calculated volume necessary to cement-off a zone.

(4) The Regional Administrator may specify other requirements in addition to or in lieu of the requirements set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section, as needed to protect USDWs.

[87 FR 45256, July 28, 2022]

(a) Area of review. Notwithstanding the alternatives presented in § 146.6 of this chapter, the area of review for Class II wells shall be a fixed radius as described in § 146.6(b) of this chapter.

(b) Tubing and packer. The owner or operator of an injection well injecting salt water for disposal shall inject through tubing and packer. The owner of an existing well must comply with this requirement within one year of the effective date of this program.

[87 FR 45256, July 28, 2022]