N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-8.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 7:14A-8.1 - Purpose and scope

(a) This subchapter establishes a system of controls to ensure that underground injection practices do not endanger underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). The goal of this subchapter is preventive. The Department's policy is to liberally interpret and enforce this subchapter to prevent the contamination of the State's ground water resources.

(b) This subchapter regulates the disposal of wastes by well injection as well as the underground storage of fluids (including gases) which have been emplaced by means of an injection well and the injection of water. Paragraph (b)1 below sets forth examples of the underground injection activities regulated under this subchapter. All injection wells are divided into five classifications, which are set forth at 7:14A-8.2.

1. The following injection wells are among the injection activities regulated under this subchapter:

i. Any injection well located on a drilling platform within the State's territorial waters;

ii. Any well, including any dug hole, that is deeper than its largest surface dimension, where the principal function of the well is emplacement of fluids;

iii. Any septic system, disposal bed, seepage pit, or cesspool used by a generator of hazardous waste, or by an owner or operator of a hazardous waste management facility to dispose of fluids containing hazardous waste;

iv. Any one subsurface disposal system or multiple subsurface disposal systems, on a single property, for which the aggregate sanitary wastewater design flow is in excess of 2000 gpd, calculated in accordance with the minimum standards for average facilities listed in the Department's Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, at 7:9A-7.4; and

v. Any injection well used to inject industrial wastes, including but not limited to drywells, leaching fields, septic systems, and seepage pits.

2. The following injection activities are not regulated under this subchapter;

i. Any injection well located on a drilling platform or other site that is beyond the State's territorial waters;

ii. Any single family residential subsurface sewage disposal system that is designed, constructed, installed and operated in compliance with the Realty Improvement Sewerage and Facilities Act, 58:11-23 et seq., and the Department's Standards for Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, N.J.A.C. 7:9A, where applicable;

iii. Any hole which is not used for emplacement of fluids underground;

iv. Any injection into a pre-constructed tank for the purpose of storage of fluids. Owners or operators of these injection wells may be subject to the Underground Storage Tank rules at N.J.A.C. 7:14B; and

v. Injection wells used for injection of hydrocarbons which are pipeline quality and are gases at standard temperature and pressure for the purpose of storage.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-8.1