N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-8.16 - Specific operating criteria and construction standards applicable to Class V injection wells

(a) This section establishes the operating criteria and construction standards for Class V wells.

(b) Class V wells shall, at a minimum, be constructed in accordance with the following requirements:

1. Well drilling permit requirements:

i. Where applicable, any owner or operator of a new Class V well shall obtain a well drilling permit before the commencement of any construction, in accordance with the Well Construction and Maintenance; Sealing of Abandoned Wells rules (N.J.A.C. 7:9D). Information and applications for a well permit may be obtained from:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Water Supply

Bureau of Water Systems and Well Permitting

PO Box 426

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0426

2. Where applicable, subsurface sewage disposal systems shall be constructed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9A, unless different requirements or specifications are set forth in a treatment works approval or NJPDES permit.

(c) Operating requirements for Class V wells are as follows:

1. Injection wells constructed in accordance with 58:4A-4.1 shall be maintained in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9D or any other pertinent regulations, or in accordance with requirements of the UIC permit.

2. Septic systems, disposal beds, or other subsurface sewage disposal systems shall be maintained in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9A or in accordance with the requirements of the UIC permit.

(d) Plugging and abandonment requirements for Class V wells are as follows:

1. Class V wells shall be plugged and abandoned in accordance with the requirements of 58:4A-4.1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 7:9D, where applicable. Cessation of injection operations constitutes abandonment in accordance with the requirements of 58:4A-4.1. The improper maintenance of a well may constitute abandonment of that well in accordance with 58:4A-4.1. Class V wells shall be closed in a manner that prevents fluid movement that may cause a violation of the State primary drinking water rules under N.J.A.C. 7:10 or the Ground Water Quality Standards under N.J.A.C. 7:9C, or that may adversely affect public health or safety. Additional requirements are as follows:

i. When it is necessary to abandon injection wells constructed or operated in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9A, such wells are, at a minimum, to be abandoned in accordance with 7:9A-12.8.

ii. At a minimum, large-capacity cesspools as identified in 7:14A-8.4(a)3 i and motor vehicle waste disposal wells as identified in 7:14A-8.4(a)3 ii shall be closed in accordance with the following:

(1) Large-capacity cesspools and motor vehicle waste disposal wells shall be emptied of wastes. Any soil, gravel, or other loose material within two feet from the bottom and sides that were exposed to waste shall be removed (except for large-capacity cesspools that have not received industrial wastes). Additional material within or surrounding such cesspools and wells shall be removed where necessary to prevent fluid movement that may adversely affect human health. Following any emptying and removal required under this sub-subparagraph, the cavity shall be filled with clean gravel, stones, or soil material;

(2) All influent and effluent lines shall be excavated, removed or sealed such that no leaching of contaminants can occur; and

(3) All wastes or other materials emptied or removed under (d)2i(1) above shall be managed in accordance with this chapter and the State Solid Waste Management Act, 13:1E-1 et seq., and its implementing rules at N.J.A.C. 7:26, 7:26A and 7:26G.

iii. Other Class V wells, not otherwise included in (d)1i or ii above, shall be plugged and abandoned in accordance with the terms of a UIC permit that includes the following conditions as applicable:

(1) All septic systems, seepage pits, dry wells and cesspools shall be emptied of wastes and removed or filled with clean gravel, stones, or soil material;

(2) All influent and effluent lines shall be excavated, removed or sealed such that no leaching of contaminants can occur;

(3) Remove material where necessary to prevent fluid movement that may adversely affect human health; and

(4) When components or residuals (for example, gravel filter material, fill material, soil) from an abandoned individual subsurface sewage disposal system are removed from the ground, such components or residuals shall be managed in accordance with this chapter, the State Solid Waste Management Act (13:1E-1 et seq.) and its implementing rules at N.J.A.C. 7:26, 7:26A and 7:26G.

(e) The UIC permit-by-rule authorization for any Class V well which fails to comply with the requirements of this section automatically terminates.

(f) Injection wells that exert a total pressure that exceeds the pressure exerted by the fluid under the influence of gravity at its height above the point of discharge plus the atmospheric pressure, shall be required to follow the standards described for Class I wells.

(g) Requirements for converting a Class V motor vehicle waste disposal well to another type of Class V well are as follows:

1. An application for an individual UIC permit shall be submitted, and shall include:

i. The information required under 7:14A-8.17;

ii. A description of how the requirements in (g)2 and 3 below will be met; and

iii. A description of how all motor vehicle waste will be managed in accordance with this chapter and the State Solid Waste Management Act, 13:1E-1 et seq., and its implementing rules at N.J.A.C. 7:26, 7:26A and 7:26G.

2. All motor vehicle waste is segregated from the intended discharge by physical barriers and is not allowed to enter the well. The use of a semi-permanent plug as the means to segregate waste is not sufficient to convert a motor vehicle waste disposal well to another type of Class V well;

3. The motor vehicle waste disposal well is emptied of wastes. Any soil, gravel, or other loose material within two feet from the bottom and sides which were exposed to waste is removed. All wastes or other materials emptied or removed are managed in accordance with this chapter and the State Solid Waste Management Act, 13:1E-1 et seq., and its implementing rules at N.J.A.C. 7:26, 7:26A and 7:26G;

4. The Department finds that injection of motor vehicle waste into the well following conversion is unlikely based on the facility's compliance history and records showing proper waste disposal; and

5. The Department approves such conversion in writing.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-8.16

Amended by R.2004 d.47, effective 2/2/2004.
See: 35 N.J.R. 169(a), 35 1331(a), 36 N.J.R. 813(a).
In (b)1i, updated address; in (c) deleted "individual" throughout; in (d), inserted new 2, recodified existing 2 to 3; added (g).
Administrative correction.
See: 37 N.J.R. 4245(a).
Administrative correction and change.
See: 38 N.J.R. 1445(a).
Amended by R.2009 d.7, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 1478(a), 41 N.J.R. 142(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (b), inserted "following" and substituted a colon for "and specifications set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:9 or 7:9A."; in (b)1i, substituted "Well Construction and Maintenance; Sealing of Abandoned Wells rules (N.J.A.C. 7:9D)" for "Subsurface and Percolating Waters Act, particularly N.J.S.A. 58:4A-4.1" and rewrote the address; rewrote (b)2; deleted (b)3; and rewrote (d).