Section 312IAC16-3-6. Continuation of an existing injection well not subsequently issued a permit as a Class II well

   (a) An existing injection well, that has not been issued a federal permit as a Class II well, but was issued a permit by the department as a well for oil and gas purposes before January 1, 1990, may continue normal operations until the division:

(1) has conducted a file review of the well; or

(2) has notified the owner or operator to cease injection.

  (b) An owner or operator of an injection well authorized under this section must, upon request by the division, provide the following information:

(1) Facility name and location.

(2) Name and address of owner or operator.

(3) Ownership of facility.

(4) Nature and type of injection well.

(5) Operating status of injection well.

This subsection does not require an owner or operator to resubmit well information previously supplied by the owner or operator to the division.

  (c) An owner or operator must notify the division, orally or in writing, within twenty-four (24) hours concerning any condition resulting from the operation of a well authorized under this section that may endanger health or the environment. A written notification must also be provided within five (5) days of when the owner or operator becomes aware of the condition. The written notification must describe the condition and its cause. If the condition has not been corrected, the written notification must also state how long the condition is expected to continue and how the owner or operator will correct the condition.

  (d) An owner or operator shall not exceed a maximum injection pressure at the wellhead, which shall be calculated to assure that the pressure during injection does not initiate new fractures or propagate existing fractures in the confining zone adjacent to an underground source of drinking water.

  (e) An owner or operator shall monitor the nature of the injected fluids with a sufficient frequency to yield data representative of their characteristics. The results of monitoring shall be summarized on a quarterly report to the division and shall include any major changes in characteristics or sources of injected fluids.

  (f) For a Class II well, an owner or operator shall demonstrate mechanical integrity under 312 IAC 16-5-15 upon a written schedule provided by the division.

  (g) The division may order a well authorized under this section to be repermitted as a Class II well where necessary for the protection of an underground source of drinking water.

  (h) Nothing in this section shall relieve an owner or operator from compliance with the requirements of the permit issued by the division. (Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 16-3-6; filed Feb 23, 1998, 11:30 a.m.: 21 IR 2334; readopted filed Nov 17, 2004, 11:00 a.m.: 28 IR 1315; readopted filed Mar 25, 2010, 2:57 p.m.: 20100421-IR-312100033RFA; readopted filed Sep 30, 2015, 12:13 p.m.: 20151028-IR-312150224RFA)