EPA UIC Dataflow Project

EPA UIC Dataflow Project Bryan Smith Radioactive Materials Division, Underground Injection Control Permits Team Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Environmental Trade Fair 2014

EPA’s National Database Initiative: the Exchange Network • “…new approach is providing real-time access to higher quality data while saving time, resources, and money for partner states, tribes, and territories.”

TCEQ Participation • Relative to other states, TCEQ’s UIC program is the largest for Class I, III, IV, and V wells* • Opportunity for TCEQ to update/upgrade data management for Class I, III, IV, and V permits and authorizations coveringover 2700 facilities and 40,000 plus wells. • EPA exchange network grants were available. • Streamline Reporting: EPA form 7520 reportrequirement may be eliminated since EPA should be able to query TCEQ data through this system. • *Class II wells are under RRC jurisdiction

TCEQ UIC Data Management • 3 Agency-Wide Oracle Databases Involved: • Central Registry – customer and regulated entities information (e.g., addresses, contacts, phone numbers)

Screenshot from Central Registry database where contact information is kept.

TCEQ UIC Data Management • 3 Agency-Wide Oracle Databases (cont.) • ARTS (Authorization and Remediation Tracking System) • Tracks UIC permits and permitting correspondence • CCEDS (Consolidated Compliance and Enforcement Data System) • Tracks information pertaining to UIC permit monitoring and compliance reporting, violations, investigations, and enforcement actions

Screenshot from the ARTS database where the physical data is kept.

Improvements • TCEQ was able to add more data fields to document and archive the data (e.g., Class III database was very small with respect to fields: ~7) • Consistency: collect and archive the same fields of data across all the UIC Well Classes when possible.

Improvements (cont) • Using the documentation provided by the EPA, TCEQ named and defined fields to be consistent with EPA’s nationwide database fields. • TCEQ created documentation that defines the database, records, and fields and thereby, refined agency procedures for data management.

EPA Data Flow Process • EPA had a database model in place • Created to incorporate data from all states • Based on “well centric” data

TCEQ Data Flow Process • TCEQ existing databases • Data is “permit centric” • Data pulled from three established databases

Data Flow Process • UIC staff and contractors identified where EPA-required data reside • Information Resources Division and contractors mapped the TCEQ data to EPA’s database using XML

Data Flow Issues • “Well Centric” vs. “Permit Centric” database structures and solutions • Compliance and Investigations database • TCEQ Data Clean Up

Moving Forward • Begin dataflow with Class I Active Permits since each Class I permit authorizes one well • Test data flow for Class I permit data • Update Class I data in databases • Correct errors as identified

Data Flow Production • Begin streaming official Class I UIC data to EPA May 15, 2014 • EPA’s bi-annual data flow based on Federal Fiscal Year • Data flowed by TCEQ to EPA theoretically will be available to the public via EPA node by July 2014

Possible Future Phases of UIC Dataflow Work • UIC Class III, IV, and V data • Several issues still to be resolved: • Decision needed on how to handle temporary Class III and V wells • Class V authorization by rule vs. permit • Class V database does not include all wells inventoried to date, some of which have also been authorized • UIC staff working to determine current status of authorized Class V remediation wells (long-term project recently undertaken)

Questions • Contact Information: • Bryan Smith • Underground Injection Control Permits Section • Radioactive Materials Division • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality • 512-239-6075 • Bryan.smith@tceq.texas.gov

EPA UIC Dataflow Project