N.M. Admin. Code § 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.
Notes
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