40 CFR §146.4
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
An aquifer or a portion thereof which meets the criteria for an “underground source of drinking water” in § 146.3 may be determined under § 144.7 of this chapter to be an “exempted aquifer” for Class I-V wells if it meets the criteria in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section. Class VI wells must meet the criteria under paragraph (d) of this section:
- (a)It does not currently serve as a source of drinking water; and
- (b)It cannot now and will not in the future serve as a source of drinking water because:
- (1)It is mineral, hydrocarbon or geothermal energy producing, or can be demonstrated by a permit applicant as part of a permit application for a Class II or III operation to contain minerals or hydrocarbons that considering their quantity and location are expected to be commercially producible.
- (2)It is situated at a depth or location which makes recovery of water for drinking water purposes economically or technologically impractical;
- (3)It is so contaminated that it would be economically or technologically impractical to render that water fit for human consumption; or
- (4)It is located over a Class III well mining area subject to subsidence or catastrophic collapse; or
- (c)The total dissolved solids content of the ground water is more than 3,000 and less than 10,000 mg/l and it is not reasonably expected to supply a public water system.
- (d)The areal extent of an aquifer exemption for a Class II enhanced oil recovery or enhanced gas recovery well may be expanded for the exclusive purpose of Class VI injection for geologic sequestration under § 144.7(d) of this chapter if it meets the following criteria: