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<br /> <br />supply any public water system of any contaminant, and if the presence of such <br />contaminant may result in such system's not complying with any national primary <br />drinking water regulation or may otherwise adversely affect the health of persons" (42 <br />USC 300 h}. <br />Similarly, the regulations finalized by EPA in 1980, defined the purpose of the underground <br />injection control (LTIC) regulations (40 CFR part 144.1 g) as: <br />"In carrying out the mandate of the SDWA, this subpart provides that no injection shall <br />be authorized by Permit or rule if it results in the movement of fluid containing any <br />contaminant into USDW, if the presence of that contaminant may cause a violation of <br />arty primary drinking water regulation under 40 CFR Part 142 or may adversely affect <br />the health of persona' . <br />EPA believes that the resulting UIC regulations aze adequate to protect USDWs from <br />injection related activities. Region VIII has determined that the Final Permit requirements are in <br />compliance with the UIC regulations. When an applicant applies for a Class III permit, 40 CFR <br />146,34 (a) requues the submittal of data for use in developing the permit. This section of the <br />regulations requires the submittal of sufficient information on the geology, the hydrology and the <br />proposed well construction for the UIC Director to make a determination that USDWs will be <br />protected and to determine if additional well construction or monitoring requirements need to be <br />established in the Permit. Key elements of a decision to issue a UIC Permit aze, the welt <br />construction design, operational controls, water monitoring and the long-term mechanical <br />integrity monitoring required by the Permit. EPA believes that sufficient infornation was provided <br />during the permitting process to make a determination that the technical elements of the Pernut, <br />as modified, are adequate to protect USDWs. <br />Although the site-specific Bound-water data collected to date suggests potential USDWs <br />are limited to the Uinta Formation portion of the Upper Aquifer in the vicinity of the initial <br />commercial well field, it is cleaz that USDWs do exist in the area of review of this project. For <br />this reason, regular monitoring of the Uurta is being required. Because regional ground-water <br />quality data indicates that portions of the Lower Aquifer are USDWs in other locations, the <br />Permit is also requiring monitoring of several zones which underlie the Umta, such as the A- <br />groove (Upper Aquifer), the B-groove (Lower Aquifer) and the zone just above the Disso]ution <br />Surface at several locations in the initial well field area. This monitoring is described in the Water <br />Monitoring Plan, which has been Snalized and is incorporated into the Final Permit. This plan <br />outlines the surface and ground-water monitoring to be carried out during the project life. The <br />plan includes the collection of 5 quarters of baseline data prior to commencement of <br />commercial operations, which will provide additional information regarding the existence and <br />extent of potential USDWs. This baseline data will provide another mechanism (to the on-going <br />mechanical integrity testing and process monitoring) for EPA to ensure that no problems are <br />occurring. In addition to the ground-water monitoring and mechanical integrity monitoring <br />requrrements, the Permit requites that the permitted injection zone have at least 150 feet of <br />10 <br />