Pennsylvania falls under the EPA Underground Injection Control Regulatory Program which categorizes six different classes of wells for fracking. These categories are based off of the similarity of fluids injected, construction, injection depth, design, and operating techniques. (Review the well classes here!). Each well has to meet a set of performance criteria for protecting underground sources of drinking water. The regulatory program focuses on: site characterization, area of review, well construction, well operation, site monitoring, well plugging and post-injection site care, public participation, and financial responsibility. The regulatory requirements for Class I wells are the most comprehensive and are similar to Class II and III. (Class IV, V, and VI have varying regulations depending on the state).

These requirements, according to the U.S. EPA Technical Program Overview are as follows:
• Casing and cementing must be demonstrated as adequate to prevent movement of fluid into underground sources of drinking water. Cement bond logs are needed to evaluate the adequacy of the cementing records.
• Financial assurances that the owner will maintain financial responsibility to plug and abandon wells properly to ensure no future damage will occur.
• A maximum operating pressure must be calculated to avoid fracturing that would allow contamination of underground sources of drinking water.
• Proper monitoring and reporting of requirements.
• All permitted wells which fail mechanical integrity will be shut down immediately.
• Every five years, a well must demonstrate mechanical integrity. (Class I hazardous wells must demonstrate mechanical integrity every year.)
• If the tubing has been disturbed, a pressure test must be conducted to demonstrate mechanical integrity.
• All Class I, II, and III wells must be plugged with cement before abandoned.

Literature Cited

Schultz, A. (2012). Hydraulic Fracturing and Natural Gas Drilling. Nova Science Publishers.