Section 704.162  Area Permits

a)         The Agency may issue a permit on an area basis, rather than for each injection well individually, provided that the permit is for injection wells for which each of the following is true:

1)         The injection wells are described and identified by location in permit applications, if they are existing injection wells, except that the Agency may accept a single description of multiple injection wells with substantially the same characteristics;

2)         The injection wells are within the same well field, facility site, reservoir, project, or similar unit in the same state;

3)         The injection wells are operated by a single owner or operator;

4)         The injection wells are used to inject other than hazardous waste; and

5)         The injection wells are other than Class VI injection wells.

b)         Area permits must specify both of the following:

1)         The area within which underground injections are authorized; and

2)         The requirements for construction, monitoring, reporting, operation, and abandonment for all wells authorized by the permit.

c)         The area permit may authorize the permittee to construct and operate, convert, or plug and abandon new injection wells within the permit area provided the following conditions are fulfilled:

1)         The permittee notifies the Agency at such time as the permit requires;

2)         The additional well satisfies the criteria in subsection (a) and meets the requirements specified in the permit under subsection (b); and

3)         The cumulative effects of drilling and operation of additional injection wells are considered by the Agency during evaluation of the area permit application and are acceptable to the Agency.

d)         If the Agency determines that any well constructed pursuant to subsection (c) does not satisfy the requirements of subsections (c)(1) and (c)(2), the Agency may modify the permit under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 702.183 through 702.185, seek revocation under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 702.186, or take enforcement action.  If the Agency determines that cumulative effects are unacceptable, the permit may be modified under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 702.183 through 702.185.

BOARD NOTE:  Derived from 40 CFR 144.33 (2017).

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 21095, effective November 19, 2018)