TCEQ Class I - Disposal Wells

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has jurisdiction over Class I injection wells for the disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. You can find more information about Class I wells on TCEQ's UIC Permits webpage.

Oil and Gas No Harm Letter

You are required to submit a letter from the Railroad Commission with your Class I injection permit application to the TCEQ. Texas Water Code Sec 27.015: "A person making application to the commission for a disposal well permit under this chapter shall submit with the application a letter from the railroad commission concluding that drilling or using the disposal well and injecting industrial and municipal waste into the subsurface stratum will not endanger or injure any known oil or gas reservoir."

Application For No Harm Letter

Submit the TCEQ permit application to the Railroad Commission's Injection-Storage Permits Unit with a cover letter requesting the Class I Oil and Gas No Harm letter. The application can be emailed to UIC@rrc.texas.gov or you may mail the application to Injection-Storage Permits Unit, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas 78711-2967.

No Harm Letter Review

Staff of the Injection-Storage Permits Unit will review all oil and gas wells and drilling permits within 2.5 miles to ensure that there has no oil or gas has been produced and that there are no active drilling permits. If there is no indication of oil or gas reservoirs within the injection zone, Staff will produce a letter stating that the disposal well will not endanger or injure any known oil or gas reservoir. If there is indication of oil and gas reservoirs within the injection zone, will request more information of the applicant or produce a letter stating that the disposal well may endanger or injure known oil or gas reservoirs.