Injection Systems Authorized by Permit

Class V Stormwater Permits are intended to authorize UICs within setbacks to water wells (within 500 feet of a water well or within the two-year time-of-travel of a water well).  DEQ only authorizes UICs within well setbacks if the UIC owner can demonstrate that the UICs do not endanger underground sources of drinking water or violate the prohibition of fluid movement standard (see 40 CFR 144.82 and 40 CFR 144.12).  DEQ’s fact sheet “Groundwater Protectiveness Demonstrations for Underground Injection Control Permits discusses the requirements for these demonstrations.

There are two options for authorizing UICs by permit: Individual Permit and General Permit.  The Individual Permit is intended for large UIC systems, and the General Permit is intended for small UIC systems.

• The summary of fees for Individual and General UIC permits.​
  

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​The Individual Permit authorizes UICs at businesses that are located in a common geology or hydrogeology, or within the jurisdictional boundaries of a public body.  All UIC systems are eligible for the Individual UIC Permit. 

• WPCF Permit Template for Class V Stormwater UIC Systems

• Permit Template Evaluation Report

DEQ has received approximately 60 applications for an individual UIC permit, and is issuing permits at a rate of about one per month.​​

DEQ issued the General UIC Permit in December 2015 (also known as the 1200-U). The General Permit authorizes UICs at a single facility, or within the jurisdictional boundaries of a public body. In order to be eligible for the General Permit, the UIC owner must own less than 50 UICs, and at least one UIC must be located within a well setback.

• WPCF UIC General Permit

• General Permit Evaluation Report
  

DEQ intends to renew the proposed General UIC Permit (also known as the 1200-U). The current 1200-U permit expired on Nov. 30, 2025 (all current permitted facilities that have applied for renewal have been administratively extended). The permit is expected to be renewed in 2026.

• WPCF UIC General Permit renewal draft

• WPCF UIC General Permit Permit Evaluation Report​
  

Class II UICs inject fluids that are associated with oil and natural gas production and recovery. Most of the injected fluid is brine produced when oil and gas are extracted from the earth.

One Class II UIC permit has been issued in Oregon (permit number 101690). The permit authorizes injection of formation salt water produced at the Mist Gas Field in Mist, Oregon.​​

Class V Geothermal UICs inject fluids produced during geothermal exploration or production into the same or comparable geothermal reservoir. Short-term geothermal exploration operations require authorization under the 1900B general permit, and long-term geothermal reservoir production requires authorization under an individual UIC permit.

One Class V Geothermal individual UIC permit has been issued in Oregon (permit number 119576). The permit authorizes injection of spent geothermal fluids at the Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Project.