Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§300h–7 State Programs to Establish Wellhead Protection Areas
Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER XII — SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Part C — Protection of Underground Sources of Drinking Water › § 300h–7
Summary
Each State must create and send to the Administrator a plan within 3 years of June 19, 1986 to protect areas around public water wells from contaminants that could harm people. The plan must say who does what, map each well’s protection area using all available groundwater information, list possible human-made contamination sources in those areas, and include help like technical and financial aid, control measures, education, training, and demonstration projects. The plan must also have backup plans for alternate drinking water if wells are contaminated and must require checks for possible contaminant sources when siting new public wells. A “wellhead protection area” means the land and underground area around a well through which contaminants could move toward the well. The Administrator must issue technical guidance states may use not later than one year after June 19, 1986. States must encourage public input, including advisory committees and a public hearing before sending the plan. The Administrator has 9 months after getting a plan to disapprove any part that is not adequate and must give written reasons to the Governor. The Governor then has 6 months to change and resend the plan. States should try to put the plan into action within 2 years of sending it and must send a progress report every two years, including changes for wells sited in that period. After 3 years from June 19, 1986, federal funds under this law may only be used to carry out the assistance, controls, education/training/demonstrations and the new-well consideration parts of the plan. Federal agencies that own potential contaminant sources must follow the State plan unless the President exempts an executive branch source for a paramount national interest (subject to specific rules about funding). States with more than 2,500 active wells using annular injection as of January 1, 1986 must certify they have an enforced program to protect against brines from oil and gas production; the Administrator will review those certifications and may disapprove the State plan if the certification is missing or enforcement is inadequate. Grants will cover not less than 50% and not more than 90% of State costs for developing and running the plans. Authorized appropriations by fiscal year are: 1987 $20,000,000; 1988 $20,000,000; 1989 $35,000,000; 1990 $35,000,000; 1991 $35,000,000; 1992–2003 $30,000,000.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §300h–7
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)State programs
The Governor or Governor’s designee of each State shall, within 3 years of June 19, 1986, adopt and submit to the Administrator a State program to protect wellhead areas within their jurisdiction from contaminants which may have any adverse effect on the health of persons. Each State program under this section shall, at a minimum—
(1)specify the duties of State agencies, local governmental entities, and public water supply systems with respect to the development and implementation of programs required by this section;
(2)for each wellhead, determine the wellhead protection area as defined in subsection (e) based on all reasonably available hydrogeologic information on ground water flow, recharge and discharge and other information the State deems necessary to adequately determine the wellhead protection area;
(3)identify within each wellhead protection area all potential anthropogenic sources of contaminants which may have any adverse effect on the health of persons;
(4)describe a program that contains, as appropriate, technical assistance, financial assistance, implementation of control measures, education, training, and demonstration projects to protect the water supply within wellhead protection areas from such contaminants;
(5)include contingency plans for the location and provision of alternate drinking water supplies for each public water system in the event of well or wellfield contamination by such contaminants; and
(6)include a requirement that consideration be given to all potential sources of such contaminants within the expected wellhead area of a new water well which serves a public water supply system.
(b)Public participation
To the maximum extent possible, each State shall establish procedures, including but not limited to the establishment of technical and citizens’ advisory committees, to encourage the public to participate in developing the protection program for wellhead areas and source water assessment programs under section 300j–13 of this title. Such procedures shall include notice and opportunity for public hearing on the State program before it is submitted to the Administrator.
(c)Disapproval
(1)In general
If, in the judgment of the Administrator, a State program or portion thereof under subsection (a) is not adequate to protect public water systems as required by subsection (a) or a State program under section 300j–13 of this title or section 300g–7(b) of this title does not meet the applicable requirements of section 300j–13 of this title or section 300g–7(b) of this title, the Administrator shall disapprove such program or portion thereof. A State program developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be deemed to be adequate unless the Administrator determines, within 9 months of the receipt of a State program, that such program (or portion thereof) is inadequate for the purpose of protecting public water systems as required by this section from contaminants that may have any adverse effect on the health of persons. A State program developed pursuant to section 300j–13 of this title or section 300g–7(b) of this title shall be deemed to meet the applicable requirements of section 300j–13 of this title or section 300g–7(b) of this title unless the Administrator determines within 9 months of the receipt of the program that such program (or portion thereof) does not meet such requirements. If the Administrator determines that a proposed State program (or any portion thereof) is disapproved, the Administrator shall submit a written statement of the reasons for such determination to the Governor of the State.
(2)Modification and resubmission
Within 6 months after receipt of the Administrator’s written notice under paragraph (1) that any proposed State program (or portion thereof) is disapproved, the Governor or Governor’s designee, shall modify the program based upon the recommendations of the Administrator and resubmit the modified program to the Administrator.
(d)Federal assistance
After the date 3 years after June 19, 1986, no State shall receive funds authorized to be appropriated under this section except for the purpose of implementing the program and requirements of paragraphs (4) and (6) of subsection (a).
(e)“Wellhead protection area” defined
As used in this section, the term “wellhead protection area” means the surface and subsurface area surrounding a water well or wellfield, supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach such water well or wellfield. The extent of a wellhead protection area, within a State, necessary to provide protection from contaminants which may have any adverse effect on the health of persons is to be determined by the State in the program submitted under subsection (a). Not later than one year after June 19, 1986, the Administrator shall issue technical guidance which States may use in making such determinations. Such guidance may reflect such factors as the radius of influence around a well or wellfield, the depth of drawdown of the water table by such well or wellfield at any given point, the time or rate of travel of various contaminants in various hydrologic conditions, distance from the well or wellfield, or other factors affecting the likelihood of contaminants reaching the well or wellfield, taking into account available engineering pump tests or comparable data, field reconnaissance, topographic information, and the geology of the formation in which the well or wellfield is located.
(f)Prohibitions
(1)Activities under other laws
No funds authorized to be appropriated under this section may be used to support activities authorized by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act [33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.], the Solid Waste Disposal Act [42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.], the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 [42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.], or other sections of this chapter.
(2)Individual sources
No funds authorized to be appropriated under this section may be used to bring individual sources of contamination into compliance.
(g)Implementation
Each State shall make every reasonable effort to implement the State wellhead area protection program under this section within 2 years of submitting the program to the Administrator. Each State shall submit to the Administrator a biennial status report describing the State’s progress in implementing the program. Such report shall include amendments to the State program for water wells sited during the biennial period.
(h)Federal agencies
Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government having jurisdiction over any potential source of contaminants identified by a State program pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a)(3) shall be subject to and comply with all requirements of the State program developed according to subsection (a)(4) applicable to such potential source of contaminants, both substantive and procedural, in the same manner, and to the same extent, as any other person is subject to such requirements, including payment of reasonable charges and fees. The President may exempt any potential source under the jurisdiction of any department, agency, or instrumentality in the executive branch if the President determines it to be in the paramount interest of the United States to do so. No such exemption shall be granted due to the lack of an appropriation unless the President shall have specifically requested such appropriation as part of the budgetary process and the Congress shall have failed to make available such requested appropriations.
(i)Additional requirement
(1)In general
In addition to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, States in which there are more than 2,500 active wells at which annular injection is used as of January 1, 1986, shall include in their State program a certification that a State program exists and is being adequately enforced that provides protection from contaminants which may have any adverse effect on the health of persons and which are associated with the annular injection or surface disposal of brines associated with oil and gas production.
(2)“Annular injection” defined
For purposes of this subsection, the term “annular injection” means the reinjection of brines associated with the production of oil or gas between the production and surface casings of a conventional oil or gas producing well.
(3)Review
The Administrator shall conduct a review of each program certified under this subsection.
(4)Disapproval
If a State fails to include the certification required by this subsection or if in the judgment of the Administrator the State program certified under this subsection is not being adequately enforced, the Administrator shall disapprove the State program submitted under subsection (a) of this section.
(j)Coordination with other laws
Nothing in this section shall authorize or require any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the Federal Government or State or local government to apportion, allocate or otherwise regulate the withdrawal or beneficial use of ground or surface waters, so as to abrogate or modify any existing rights to water established pursuant to State or Federal law, including interstate compacts.
(k)Authorization of appropriations
Unless the State program is disapproved under this section, the Administrator shall make grants to the State for not less than 50 or more than 90 percent of the costs incurred by a State (as determined by the Administrator) in developing and implementing each State program under this section. For purposes of making such grants there is authorized to be appropriated not more than the following amounts:
Fiscal year: | Amount
1987 | $20,000,000
1988 | 20,000,000
1989 | 35,000,000
1990 | 35,000,000
1991 | 35,000,000
1992–2003 | 30,000,000.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is act June 30, 1948, ch. 758, as amended generally by Pub. L. 92–500, § 2, Oct. 18, 1972, 86 Stat. 816, which is classified generally to chapter 26 (§ 1251 et seq.) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1251 of Title 33 and Tables. The Solid Waste Disposal Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is title II of Pub. L. 89–272, Oct. 20, 1965, 79 Stat. 997, as amended generally by Pub. L. 94–580, § 2, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2795, which is classified generally to chapter 82 (§ 6901 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 6901 of this title and Tables. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is Pub. L. 96–510, Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2767, which is classified principally to chapter 103 (§ 9601 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 9601 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–182, § 501(f)(4), made technical amendment to section catchline and subsec. (a) designation. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–182, § 132(b)(4), inserted before period at end of first sentence “and source water assessment programs under section 300j–13 of this title”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–182, § 132(b)(3), which directed substitution of “is disapproved” for “is inadequate” in third sentence, was executed by making the substitution in fourth sentence to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the amendment by Pub. L. 104–182, § 132(b)(2). See below. Pub. L. 104–182, § 132(b)(2), inserted after second sentence “A State program developed pursuant to section 300j–13 of this title or section 300g–7(b) of this title shall be deemed to meet the applicable requirements of section 300j–13 of this title or section 300g–7(b) of this title unless the Administrator determines within 9 months of the receipt of the program that such program (or portion thereof) does not meet such requirements.” Pub. L. 104–182, § 132(b)(1), amended first sentence generally. Prior to amendment, first sentence read as follows: “If, in the judgment of the Administrator, a State program (or portion thereof, including the definition of a wellhead protection area), is not adequate to protect public water systems as required by this section, the Administrator shall disapprove such program (or portion thereof).” Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104–182, § 132(b)(3), substituted “is disapproved” for “is inadequate”. Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 104–182, § 120(b), inserted table item relating to fiscal years 1992 through 2003. 1986—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 99–339, § 301(e), added subsec. (k).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 300h–7
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110