New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department…

ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: THE APPLICATION FOR PRIMACY FOR ANY WELL TYPE UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT (SDWA) IS PROSCRIPTIVE AND TAKES YEARS TO COMPLETE. A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF THE TIME REQUIRED IS THREE TO FIVE YEARS. OCD HAS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING GENERAL STEPS TO PRIMACY: 1. OCD DEVELOPS A PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW PACKAGE FOR INITIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA); 2. OCD PETITIONS WQCC TO CONFORM NEW MEXICO RULES TO EPA CLASS VI PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. OCD CANNOT SUBMIT ITS PRIMACY PACKAGE FOR EPA REVIEW/APPROVAL UNTIL ITS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IS IN PLACE; 3. EPA UNDERTAKES A COMPLETENESS REVIEW AND DETERMINATION FOLLOWING THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW RULES. THIS STEP MAY RESULT IN MODIFICATIONS AND RESUBMISSION OF THE ADOPTED RULES; 4. ONCE THE FINAL RULEMAKING HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE COMPLETE, EPA UNDERTAKES AN APPLICATION EVALUATION, WHICH INCLUDES A PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS AND PRELIMINARY DECISION BY EPA; AND 5. EPA CONDUCTS FEDERAL RULEMAKING TO APPROVE/DISAPPROVE A STATE'S PRIMACY APPLICATION OR PROGRAM REVISION. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: OCD HAS DEFINED THE SUBSEQUENT TASKS TO PROCESS AND COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR PRIMACY WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO REQUIRE TWO TO THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE. THE TASKS LISTED BELOW ARE NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND MULTIPLE TASKS MAY OCCUR CONCURRENTLY AS NEEDED: TASK 1. RESEARCH AND PLANNING TASK 2. CLASS VI RULE DEVELOPMENT TASK 3: STAKEHOLDER EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT TASK 4: PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT TASK 5: EPA PREAPPLICATION REVIEW PACKAGE TASK 6: CONDUCT STATE LEVEL CLASS VI RULEMAKING TASK 7: FORMAL CLASS VI APPLICATION FOR SUBMITTAL TO EPA TASK 8: IDENTIFY POTENTIAL STATE-LEVEL LEGISLATIVE CHANGES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL CLASS VI PROGRAM TASK 9: GENERAL LEGAL SUPPORT BY CONTRACTOR THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: SUCCESSFUL APPROVAL OF STATE OR TRIBAL CLASS VI PRIMACY PROGRAM; PROTECTION OF UNDERGROUND SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER FROM ENDANGERMENT; PREVENTION OF POTENTIAL HUMAN HEALTH AND, AS APPROPRIATE, ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS FROM UIC CLASS VI ACTIVITY; PREVENTION, AS APPROPRIATE, OF ANY INCREASE IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, RESOURCE ISSUES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS FROM CLASS VI ACTIVITY GEOLOGIC SEQUESTRATION OF CO2]. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

Assistance listing: 66.486 Underground Injection Control Program Grants: Class Vi Carbon Sequestration Wells; FAIN: 02F70501; Assistance type: F001 GRANT; Action: A1 New Award (modification 0); USAspending transaction: 6800_02F70501_-NONE-_66.486_0