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.~f!~. ~ ~ - ~ Groundwater Protection a ~Y~~~,~~...~~. f k Top Priority for ACWA Fee Proposal Forwarded for Underground Injection Control (Uic) Devices Oregonians rely on groundwater as a fresh, clean supply of drinking water. Almost half ofOregonians - - 1.4 million people - -depend on groundwater for- their daily water. Seventy-seven percent of Oregonians depend on groundwater for at least some of their water needs. Federal and state Safe Drinking WaterAct Underground TOO Llittle MOney j Injection Control (UIC) regulations control how t0 Run Statewide Program ~ stormwater can be disposed of below ground. UIC wells can be a threat to drinking water if not properly designed, The problem is one of resources. UIC program funding is currently limited to federal funds -and those federal constructed, and maintained. The Federal Environmental funds pay for less than one.full time staff person (currently Protection Agency (EPA) regulations set regulatory funded at 0.8 of a full time position). The current Oregon framework for UIC wells. Oregon requested and received program registers an average of I-,550 UICs per year and delegation to operate the UIC program in Oregon. approves I ,250 UICs as meeting the Oregon rules. The program is severely underfunded. tt currently has The funding is not adequate to operate a statewide federal funding for 0.8 staff for a program that covers the program ! entire state, and~registers about I, 500 new UICs a year. To fund a program that protects drinking water and provides ACWA members interested in the UlCprogram technical assistance to municipalities and the development evaluated a number of options including community, user fees for UICs will be necessary. • Return program to EPA A group of municipalities and DEQ staff reviewed the UIC If the program is returned to EPA, EPA will likely program, outlined options, and developed a recommended take an enforcement approach, putting developers a set of UIC fees for consideration by the 2007 Oregon and local governments at risk EPA will operate the Le islature. g ro ram from their Seattle re Tonal office offerin P.g g g little opportunity for interaction and technical "The current Oregon UIC program needs improvement assistance to Oregon municipalities and developers. to provide adequate levels of service to its stakeholders;' said.Shannon Taylor of the City of Redmond and co-chair Institute reasonable fees so DEQ can run of the ACWA Groundwater Committee. "I believe that the program the additional resources provided in this proposal are Local control means a better program for developers a good start at increasing the level of service required and municipalities, while improving groundwater to administer a program of this nature.. It is important protection. Local governments and DEQ believe the that UIC program services be provided by regional program can best be run at the state/local level. A Oregon DEQ staff to ensure that the groundwater in our set of reasonable fees will allow the program to meet community is protected, our unique climate and hydrology the needs of both municipalities and fhe development is balariced with cost-effective stormwater disposal community along with protecting Oregon's methods, and the growth within our communities can groundwater resource, the drinking water supply for continue to be supported;' she said. the' majority of Oregonians. "Funding the DEQ's UIC program through user fees is Request genera[ funding for the program the fairest and best way to keep the UIC program under DEQ has indicated it is not inclined to ask for General Oregon's control," added Ollie Fick with the City of Bend. Funds to support this program, at this time. The City of Bend strongly supports the ACWAIDEQ funding proposal," he said. Continued ? ' wdiS,'o'~i, af~~ CLEAN