The UIC program for hydraulic fracturing of coal beds in the State of Alabama, except those on Indian lands, is the program administered by the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama, approved by EPA pursuant to Section 1425 of the SDWA on December 22, 1999 and effective on January 19, 2000. The Alabama program consists of the following elements, as submitted to EPA in the State's program application:

(a) Incorporation by reference. The requirements set forth in State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama Rule 400-4-1-.02, Definitions, and Rule 400-4-5-.04, Protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water during the Hydraulic Fracturing of Coal Beds, are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of the applicable UIC program under the SDWA for the State of Alabama. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register on January 19, 2000 in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained at the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama, 420 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL 35489-9780. Copies may be inspected at the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Water Management Division, Ground Water/Drinking Water Branch, Ground Water & UIC Section, Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Room15-T53, Atlanta, GA 30303-8960, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal__register/code__of__federal__regulations/ibr__locations.html.

(b) Addendum One, Underground Injection Control Program, Memorandum of Agreement Between the State of Alabama and the USEPA Region 4, signed by the Supervisor, Alabama State Oil and Gas Board on December 10, 1999, and the Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, on December 13, 1999.

(c) Statement of Legal Authority. “I hereby certify, pursuant to my authority as Attorney General for the State of Alabama and for reasons set forth in this statement, that in my opinion, the laws of the State of Alabama provide the State Oil and Gas Board (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) adequate authority to carry out an Underground Injection Program for the control of underground injection activity related to the hydraulic fracturing of coal beds.” Opinion by Alabama's Attorney General Office, extracted from Letter from R. Craig Kneisel, Chief, Environmental Division, Office of the Attorney General, dated October 8, 1999, to Dr. Donald F. Oltz, Supervisor, State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama, Subject: Attorney General's Statement for Final Authorization of Alabama Class II Underground injection Control Program.

(d) The Program Description for the Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing of Coal Beds As required by 40 CFR 145.23—State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama, including Appendices A through F.

[65 FR 2897, Jan. 19, 2000]