Book--Deep Well Injection of Industrial Wastes, Government Controls and Legal Constraints UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RESTON, VIRGINIA 22092 January 26, 1977 GROUND WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 77.03 Subject: Book--Deep Well Injection of Industrial Wastes, Government Controls and Legal Constraints, by William R. Walker and William E. Cox, Virginia Water Resources Research Center The objectives of the Water Resources Division's subsurface waste storage program is to define hydrologic principles and techniques relevant to the use and management of subsurface waste storage and to prevent endangering usable water resources. The program consists of regional delineation and description of deep saline aquifer systems that are potentially useful for waste storage, assessment of the degradation of groundwater quality that has been caused or may be caused by waste disposal or other activities, determination of the field values of hydrodynamic dispersion of waste in ground water, and other fundamental studies in geology, hydrology, chemistry, and physics related to waste movement in both shallow and deep aquifers. The subject book concerns only deep-well injection and is the most complete source of information on current policies and programs of the State and Federal management agencies. The management agencies are the users of the hydrogeological concepts and principles such as are developed by the WRD's subsurface waste program. The subject book is being distributed to each WRD District and to selected Subdistrict offices for their libraries. The book provides excellent background information not only on existing Federal and State policy and regulations of deep well injection, but also on the intent and impact of the Safe Drinking Water Act on future State regulatory programs. Reading the book will not make one an instant expert, but should help one prepare for discussions with cooperators, industries, and consultants about deep well injection. Part I of the book discusses the philosophy, existing use, and the advantages and disadvantages of well injection. Part II discusses impacts of PL 92-500 (Federal Water Pollution Control Act), PL 93-523 (Safe Drinking Water Act), and the Proposed Rules for Underground Injection Control. It also summarizes State Regulatory Programs for those states that developed them prior to the Safe Drinking Water Act. Part III discusses laws and judicial decisions that bear upon the practice. Part IV presents concepts and guidelines on developing waste-management regulations for deep-well injection. (s) Leonard A. Wood Coordinator, Subsurface Waste Studies