Underground Injection Control Grants
On this page:
- What grant funding is available under the UIC program?
- UIC program grants
- How UIC program grants are allocated
- How grant funds are allocated to non-primacy tribal UIC program
- Targeted UIC program grants for Class VI well
- Class VI Letter to Governors and Class VI Letter to Tribal Leaders
What grant funding is available under the UIC program?
- Training for improved protection of drinking water sources
- UIC program funding grants, referred to as UIC State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG)
- UIC Class VI grant program
Training for improved protection of drinking water sources
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water is soliciting applications under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act from eligible applicants to provide training to develop and expand the capability of state and Tribal Underground Injection Control and Source Water Protection (SWP) programs to improve the capability of states and Tribes to protect drinking water sources and public health. EPA anticipates funding one award for approximately $2,100,000, depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project. It is anticipated that the project period for this award will be three years and that the award will be incrementally funded at approximately $700,000 per year.
The scope of this work includes: providing leadership and support to states and Tribes on emerging and/or high priority UIC and SWP issues; sponsoring annual meetings for UIC and SWP programs; supporting and encouraging state and Tribal participation in the UIC Data Application; developing and delivering training for UIC Class VI regulators; sharing information with states, Tribes, and other stakeholders; and additional project elements as identified by the successful applicant.
The funding opportunity will remain open for 45 days on Grants.gov.
UIC program grants
- Primacy states - states that have received primary enforcement authority for the UIC program
- Territories - U.S. territories that have primary enforcement authority for the UIC program
- Tribes - federally recognized tribes that have primary enforcement authority for the UIC program
- EPA - Regions that directly implement the UIC program in a state, U.S. territory, or within the boundaries of a federally recognized tribe
How UIC program grants are allocated
Each year, grant money is allocated to help UIC primacy programs enforce the minimum federal UIC requirements. These funds are authorized by Congress under Section 1443 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). These state and tribal assistance grants are distributed by EPA's national UIC program. The total annual amount of the grant varies slightly, but is approximately $12 million per year.
Individual state and tribal grant allotments are determined from a formula based on criteria identified in the SDWA. The formula directs available resources toward the highest risk wells in order to achieve the maximum level of public health protection. The formula considers:
- Well status - the inventory of injection wells in classes I to VI that are active, temporarily abandoned, or under construction are included in the formula.
- Well type - the grant formula targets classes of wells that have the greatest potential to contaminate an underground source of drinking water (USDW) and threaten public health
- State population - the number of people to be protected from the risks posed by injection activities has an effect on the grant allocation.
- State size - this variable influences resources needed to maximize field activities such as inspections of permitted facilities to ensure compliance with safe operating requirements or to locate and address endangering injection wells.
Read more about injection well inventories.
How grant funds are allocated to non-primacy tribal UIC programs
Grant money is provided annually to EPA Regions to support UIC program efforts to protect drinking water sources on tribal lands. Seven percent of the overall UIC grant is set aside for tribes. These funds are distributed to the Regions using a formula similar to the grant formula used for primacy programs.
Targeted UIC program grants for Class VI wells
EPA has announced over $48 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to help states and Tribes in developing and implementing UIC Class VI programs. These UIC Class VI programs regulate the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) into UIC Class VI wells. Geologic sequestration is a key component of carbon capture and storage, which reduces CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and mitigates climate change.
On January 19, 2023, EPA Administrator Regan sent letters inviting states, Tribes, and territories to submit letters of intent (LOI) to indicate their interest in the new grant program. Twenty-five states and Tribes submitted LOIs in response and are now eligible for the grant funding: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, MHA Nation, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Navajo Nation, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The $48,250,000 in available funds have been allocated evenly among the 25 interested states and Tribes, with an allotment of $1,930,000 for each program. Each state or Tribe may apply for grant funding for project periods of up to five years. There is no non-federal cost share requirement. EPA intends to award all available appropriated funds in a one-time distribution through this process. Programs interested in receiving awards in federal fiscal year 2024 should work with their respective EPA Regions to ensure that complete applications are submitted by the applicable EPA Regional deadlines.
Eligible applicants that submitted a LOI may apply for the grant program through https://www.Grants.gov. For more information on the new UIC Class VI grant program and how to apply, eligible applicants should review the UIC Class VI Implementation Document and Fact Sheet, linked below:
Class VI Grant Implementation Document (pdf)
Class VI Grant Fact Sheet (pdf)
The Implementation Document is intended to provide states and Tribes with information on how to apply for and use this funding. It includes information on statutory authority, eligible recipients, eligible activities, ineligible uses of grant funds, environmental justice requirements, allocation of funds, application package and submission information, scope of work, state activities selection, cost sharing requirements, award administration information, and contact information.
EPA is committed to supporting state, Tribal, and territory efforts to obtain primacy under the Safe Drinking Water Act and, at the same time, incorporate environmental justice principles and equity into their proposed UIC Class VI programs. To that end, EPA is requiring states and Tribes to integrate environmental justice and equity planning and controls, such as those described in an August 17, 2023 document titled Environmental Justice Guidance for UIC Class VI Permitting and Primacy, into their processes as a threshold requirement to receive funding under this grant program. More information on specific requirements can be found in the Implementation Document.
Class VI Letter to Governors and Class VI Letter to Tribal Leaders
On December 9, 2022, Administrator Michael Regan sent a letter to Governors calling for partnership to advance the twin goals combating climate change and supporting environmental justice (EJ) goals. A Class VI letter to Tribal Leaders was sent on January 11, 2023. These letters outline expectations for state and Tribal programs seeking authority to regulate the injection of CO2 into underground deep rock formations and the Agency’s aim to efficiently work together with state programs on climate and EJ. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to taking action to address EJ, building more resilient communities, and reducing emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. States, territories, and tribes are important partners to EPA in addressing environmental challenges. The Class VI Letter to Governors and Class VI Letter to Tribal Leaders can be viewed below.