(a) The executive director or commission shall consider the following before issuing an individual permit, a general permit, or an authorization by rule for an aquifer recharge (AR) injection well:

(1) whether the injection of water will comply with the standards set forth under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (42 United States Code, §§300f, et seq);

(2) the effect of the AR project on existing water wells;

(3) the effect of the AR project on existing springs and other surface features that connect to the injection interval; and

(4) whether the introduction of water into the receiving geologic formation will alter the physical, chemical, or biological quality of the native groundwater to a degree that would: (A) render the groundwater produced from the receiving formation harmful or detrimental to people, animals, vegetation, or property; or (B) require an unreasonably higher level of treatment of the groundwater produced from the receiving geologic formation than is necessary before AR project initiation for the native groundwater to render the groundwater suitable for beneficial use.

(b) Upon completion of an AR injection well, the following information, as applicable, shall be submitted to the executive director within 30 days of receipt of the results of all analyses and test results:

(1) as-built drilling and completion data on the well;

(2) all logging and testing data on the well;

(3) formation fluid analyses;

(4) injection fluid analyses;

(5) injectivity and pumping tests determining well capacity and reservoir characteristics;

(6) hydrogeologic modeling, with supporting data, predicting the results of injection fluid interaction with the receiving formation and the native groundwater, and predicting injection fluid movement; and

(7) other information as determined by the executive director as necessary for the protection of underground sources of drinking water.

Source Note: The provisions of this §331.267 adopted to be effective May 28, 2020, 45 TexReg 3458