Final Class VI Guidance Documents

This list of Final Class VI guidance documents below are prepared to assist:

• UIC program directors in implementing the Class VI program
• Class VI well owners or operators in complying with the Class VI regulations 

• Memorandum on Environmental Justice Guidance for UIC Class VI Permitting and Primacy (pdf) (354.45 KB, August 2023)
  FINAL – This document supports Class VI UIC Program Directors in identifying, analyzing, and addressing Environment Justice concerns when implementing and overseeing all UIC permitting and primacy programs. Additionally, UIC well owners/operators should consider this guidance when developing permit applications.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide – Underground Injection Control Program Class VI Implementation Manual for UIC Program Directors (pdf) (5.06 MB, January 2018, EPA 816-R-18-001)
  FINAL - This document supports Class VI UIC Program Directors in implementing their responsibilities over the course of a Class VI GS project from pre-permitting through to site closure.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide, Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Well Plugging, Post-Injection Site Care, and Site Closure Guidance (pdf) (2.68 MB, December 2016, EPA 816-R-16-006)
  FINAL - This guidance supports Class VI permit applicants and owners or operators in complying with the well plugging, post-injection site care and site closure requirements of the Class VI rule.
• Summary of the EPA’s Responses to Public Comments Received on the Draft Class VI Well Plugging, Post-Injection Site Care, and Site Closure Guidance for Owners and Operators (pdf) (785.8 KB, December 2016, EPA 816-S-16-002)
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide, Underground Injection Control Program Class VI Reporting, Record-keeping and Data Management Guidance for Owners or Operators (pdf) (2.68 MB, September 2016, EPA 816-R-16-005)
  FINAL - This guidance supports Class VI permit applicants and owners or operators in complying with the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of the Class VI rule and the related submittal and management of information associated with Class VI geologic sequestration projects.
• Summary of the EPA's Responses to Public Comments Received on the Draft Class VI Well Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Data Management Guidance for Owners or Operators (pdf) (1.95 MB, September 2016, EPA 816-S-16-001)
• Frequently Asked Questions About Class VI and Subpart RR Reporting (pdf) (158.49 KB, September 2016, EPA 816-U-16-001)
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Primacy Manual for State Directors (pdf) (1.21 MB, April 2014, 816-B-14-003)
  FINAL - This manual is intended to provide procedural support to UIC Program Directors preparing the required UIC primacy application materials to submit to EPA for approval.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Well Site Characterization Guidance (pdf) (3.52 MB, May 2013, 815-R-13-004)
  FINAL - This document is part of a series of technical guidance documents designed to support owners or operators of Class VI wells and the UIC Program permitting authorities.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Well Area of Review Evaluation and Corrective Action Guidance (pdf) (4.27 MB, May 2013, 816-R-13-005)
  FINAL - This guidance provides information regarding modeling requirements and recommendations for delineating the AoR, describes the circumstances under which the AoR is to be reevaluated, and describes how to perform an AoR reevaluation. In addition, the guidance presents information on how to identify, evaluate, and perform corrective action on artificial penetrations located within the AoR.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Well Testing and Monitoring Guidance (pdf) (4.44 MB, March 2013, 816-R-13-001)
  FINAL - The purpose of this guidance document is to describe the technologies, tools, and methods available to owners or operators of Class VI wells to fulfill the Class VI Rule requirements related to developing and implementing site- and project-specific strategies for testing and monitoring. The intended primary audiences of this guidance document are Class VI injection well owners or operators, contractors performing testing and monitoring activities, and UIC Program Directors.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Well Project Plan Development Guidance (pdf) (1.49 MB, August 2012, 816- R-11-017)
  FINAL - This guidance describes, for Class VI injection well owners or operators, the required elements of each plan and the site-specific elements of each GS project that may be considered when developing the plans. This document also describes the process by which the UIC Program Director will evaluate and approve each plan and how EPA recommends that the plans be reviewed and amended, if necessary, throughout the lifecycle of the project.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide - Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Well Construction Guidance (pdf) (1.1 MB, May 2012, 816-R-11-020)
  FINAL - This guidance describes, for Class VI injection well owners or operators, the construction, testing, and operating requirements for an approved Class VI injection well. It includes guidance and recommendations on how to meet these requirements. This document also describes the information that the UIC Program Director will evaluate when reviewing a permit application for a Class VI injection well.
• Research and Analysis in Support of UIC Class VI Program Financial Responsibility Requirements and Guidance (pdf) (2.6 MB, December 2010, 816-R-10-017)
  FINAL - This document provides some of the supporting research and analysis for the financial responsibility requirements (40 CFR 146.85) and guidance (EPA 816-D-10-010) for the UIC Class VI Program.
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide: Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Class VI Financial Responsibility Guidance (pdf) (902.83 KB, July 2011, 815-R-11-005)
  This document details recommended types of financial mechanisms that can be used to meet the Class VI Final Rule requirements for financial responsibility and provides guidance on use.​ For 508 Compliance and Accessibility concerns, contact Sharon Newman ([email protected]).
• Key Principles in EPA's Underground Injection Control Program Class VI Rule Related to Transition of Class II Enhanced Oil or Gas Recovery Wells to Class VI (pdf) (309.3 KB, April 23, 2015)
  This Memorandum provides high level guidance in the form of six key principles related to the transitioning of Class II Enhanced Recovery wells that inject carbon dioxide from Class II operations to Class VI. The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel, interprets these key principles as applicable to Class II-D acid gas wells. Such an interpretation is legally consistent with the UIC Class VI Well Regulations, specifically 40 CFR 144.19.