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 solicited 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 UIC and Source Water Protection (SWP) programs to improve the capability of states and tribes to protect drinking water sources and public health. EPA funded one award for approximately $2,100,000 to the Ground Water Protection Council with a project period of three years, beginning September 1, 2024 and ending August 20, 2027 and 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.
This funding opportunity is now closed.
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 funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 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.
On January 19, 2023, EPA 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. Programs who have not yet received an award but are interested in receiving awards in federal fiscal year 2025 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 UIC Class VI grant program and how to apply, eligible applicants should review the UIC Class VI Implementation Document, last updated in May 2025 and linked below:
Review the Class VI Grant Implementation Document
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, allocation of funds, application package and submission information, scope of work, state activities selection, cost sharing requirements, award administration information, and contact information.
Class VI Letter to Governors and Class VI Letter to Tribal Leaders
EPA sent a letter to governors (December 9, 2022) and tribal leaders (January 11, 2023) outlining expectations for state and tribal programs seeking authority to regulate the injection of CO2 into underground deep rock formations. The Class VI Letter to Governors and Class VI Letter to Tribal Leaders can be viewed below.