N.M. Admin. Code § 20.6.2.5352

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 20.6.2.5352 - MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR SITING

A. All Class I hazardous waste injection wells shall be sited such that they inject into a formation that is beneath the lowermost formation containing within one quarter mile of the well bore groundwater of the state of New Mexico.

B. The siting of Class I hazardous waste injection wells shall be limited to areas that are geologically suitable. The director shall determine geologic suitability based upon:

(1) an analysis of the structural and stratigraphic geology, the hydrogeology, and the seismicity of the region;

(2) an analysis of the local geology and hydrogeology of the well site, including, at a minimum, detailed information regarding stratigraphy, structure and rock properties, aquifer hydrodynamics and mineral resources; and

(3) a determination that the geology of the area can be described confidently and that limits of waste fate and transport can be accurately predicted through the use of models.

C. Class I hazardous waste injection wells shall be sited such that:

(1) the injection zone has sufficient permeability, porosity, thickness and areal extent to prevent migration of fluids into groundwater of the state of New Mexico; and

(2) the confining zone:

(a) is laterally continuous and free of transecting, transmissive faults or fractures over an area sufficient to prevent the movement of fluids into groundwater of the state of New Mexico; and

(b) contains at least one formation of sufficient thickness and with lithologic and stress characteristics capable of preventing vertical propagation of fractures.

D. The owner or operator shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director that:

(1) the confining zone is separated from the base of the lowermost groundwater of the state of New Mexico by at least one sequence of permeable and less permeable strata that will provide an added layer of protection for groundwater of the state of New Mexico in the event of fluid movement in an unlocated borehole or transmissive fault; or

(2) within the area of review, the piezometric surface of the fluid in the injection zone is less than the piezometric surface of the lowermost groundwater of the state of New Mexico, considering density effects, injection pressures and any significant pumping in the overlying groundwater of the state of New Mexico; or

(3) there is no groundwater of the state of New Mexico present.

(4) The director may approve a site which does not meet the requirements in Paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of Subsections D of this section if the owner or operator can demonstrate to the director that because of the geology, nature of the waste, or other considerations, abandoned boreholes or other conduits would not cause endangerment of groundwater of the state of New Mexico.

N.M. Admin. Code § 20.6.2.5352

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVI, Issue 15, August 14, 2015, eff. 8/31/2015