The Injection and Mining Division (IMD) has the responsibility for implementation of major environmental programs statutorily charged to the Office of Conservation. The Division administers an EPA-approved Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulatory and permit program to protect underground sources of drinking water from endangerment by the subsurface emplacement of both hazardous and nonhazardous fluids through deep well injection and other oilfield waste disposal techniques.

The Engineering Section and the Geological Section are responsible for reviewing all petroleum engineering and geological aspects of injection well and commercial facility applications and for providing petroleum engineering and geological expertise in areas of regulatory concern.

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An Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW) is defined as an aquifer or its portion which supplies any public water system or contains a sufficient quantity of ground water to supply a public water system and currently supplies drinking water for human consumption or contains fewer than 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids and which is not an exempted aquifer.

The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program was developed by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a result of the 1977 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The Office of Conservation received primary enforcement authority (primacy) for the regulation of injection and disposal wells in 1982.

Five classes of injection wells identified by the EPA and state regulations

Injection Well and Commercial Facility Rules

The State of Louisiana is divided into seven areas for inspection purposes, as shown in the UIC Program Conservation Enforcement Agent Parish Assignment Map.