1. (a) Except as provided in §331.9 of this title (relating to Injection Authorized by Rule) and by subsections (d) - (f) of this section, all injection wells and activities must be authorized by an individual permit.
2. (b) For Class III in situ uranium solution mining wells, Frasch sulfur wells, and other Class III operations under commission jurisdiction, an area permit authorizing more than one well may be issued for a defined permit area in which wells of similar design and operation are proposed. The wells must be operated by a single owner or operator. Before commencing operation of those wells, the permittee may be required to obtain a production area authorization for separate production or mining areas within the permit area.
3. (c) The owner or operator of a large capacity septic system, a septic system which accepts industrial waste, or a subsurface area drip dispersal system, as defined in §222.5 of this title (relating to Definitions) must obtain a wastewater discharge permit in accordance with Texas Water Code, Chapter 26 or Chapters 26 and 32, and Chapter 305 of this title (relating to Consolidated Permits), and must submit the inventory information required under §331.10 of this title (relating to Inventory of Wells Authorized by Rule).
4. (d) Pre-injection units for Class I nonhazardous, noncommercial injection wells and Class V injection wells permitted for the disposal of nonhazardous waste must be either authorized by a permit issued by the commission or registered in accordance with §331.17 of this title (relating to Pre-Injection Units Registration). The option of registration provided by this subsection shall not apply to pre-injection units for Class I injection wells used for the disposal of byproduct material, as that term is defined in Chapter 336 of this title (relating to Radioactive Substance Rules). Pre-injection units for Class I wells authorized to inject only nonhazardous desalination concentrate or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals are not subject to authorization by registration but are subject to authorization by an individual permit or under the general permit issued under Subchapter L of this chapter (relating to General Permit Authorizing Use of a Class I Injection Well to Inject Nonhazardous Desalination Concentrate or Nonhazardous Drinking Water Treatment Residuals).
5. (e) The commission may issue a general permit under Subchapter L of this chapter. The commission may determine that an injection well and the injection activities are more appropriately regulated under an individual permit than under a general permit based on findings that the general permit will not protect ground and surface fresh water from pollution due to site-specific conditions.
6. (f) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, an injection well authorized by the Railroad Commission of Texas to use nonhazardous desalination concentrate or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals as an injection fluid for enhanced recovery purposes does not require a permit from the commission. The use or disposal of radioactive material under this paragraph is subject to the applicable requirements of Chapter 336 of this title (relating to Radioactive Substance Rules).

Source Note:The provisions of this §331.7 adopted to be effective May 13, 1986, 11 TexReg 1980; amended to be effective April 28, 1997, 22 TexReg 3526; amended to be effective July 12, 2001, 26 TexReg 5019; amended to be effective January 9, 2003, 28 TexReg 340; amended to be effective July 5, 2006, 31 TexReg 5339; amended to be effective July 10, 2008, 33 TexReg 5342.