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Registration is required for all City-owned UICs, including those in the right-of-way or on City-owned properties. Find the forms and process to register or decommission sumps, soakage trenches, hybrid vegetated stormwater facilities, or any facility that infiltrates stormwater below ground.
Before registering a UIC
Applicants for proposed UICs (sumps, perforated pipes, soakage trenches) in the public right-of-way or on City-owned property must include a Sump Data Table (template below) with plans for any proposed sump prior to submitting a registration request.
The standardized UIC Data Table required for public right-of-way sumps should include drainage area size, infiltration capacity, and hydrant flow rate. For any proposed hybrid vegetated stormwater facility, applicants must include the Vegetated Stormwater Facility Data Table.
How to register a UIC
The registration and permitting process for City-owned UICs is managed by Environmental Services under the City’s Water Pollution Control Facilities (WPCF) Underground Injection Control (UIC) Stormwater Permit, which is different from rule authorization or permitting of private UICs. See Chapter 1 in the Stormwater Management Manual for more information.
- New UICs for the right-of-way: The Environmental Services UIC Permit Program manages the registration and permitting of City-owned UICs proposed for construction or redevelopment. Public works permit applicants should notify the City at the 60-90% design phases if UICs are being considered for infiltration of runoff from the public right-of-way. Environmental Services will complete the review in accordance with WPCF permit requirements and provide a notice to proceed when it determines the proposed UIC meets permit requirements. For design requirements for City-owned sumps, please refer to Section 4.2.2.1 in the Stormwater Management Manual.
- New UICs on City-owned property outside of the right-of-way: Any UIC managing stormwater runoff from a City-owned or managed property outside of the public right-of-way, such as roofs or parking lots, must be registered and permitted by the City and processed in accordance with the City’s WPCF permit. Pretreatment is likely required for UICs registered on a City-owned property.
- Existing UICs that need to be registered. Any existing, unregistered UIC found in the right-of-way or on City-owned property needs to be registered as soon as discovered.
- UICs on private streets: A UIC on a private street is not registered and permitted by the City. Applicants must apply directly to State of Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) UIC program for rule authorization or a permit. The design requirements for these facilities are in Chapter 3 of the City's Stormwater Management Manual.
Registration process
Step 1: Complete an application form
Applicants for proposed UICs in the public right-of-way or on City-owned property should file a registration form with Environmental Services early in the design process — at either the 60-90% design phases.
Download and complete the top portion of the UIC Registration and Approval Form. A separate form is required for each UIC.
Please provide as much of the following information is known. Incomplete forms are accepted.
- UIC type (sump, hybrid, perforated pipe, etc.)
- Latitude and longitude in decimal degrees
- UIC depth
- Pretreatment type
- Square footage of impervious drainage area
- Design discharge rate in gallons per minute
Step 2: Provide supporting documents
In addition to the completed form, please attach supporting documentation, which could include:
- Engineering plans, including completed UIC data table (template above) and drainage basin overview sheet
- Geotech reports
- Maps and/or as-built drawings
Step 3: Submit materials
Submit completed forms and supporting materials to BESUIC@portlandoregon.gov.
Step 4: Review and approval
After the form is received, the Environmental Services UIC Permit Program staff will confirm compliance. If the design does not meet the compliance requirements, our staff will contact you to discuss options.
Once the UIC is approved, Environmental Services will provide a DEQ registration number. The DEQ registration number must be added to the plans prior to inspection. Please use the Sump Data Table Template to record the DEQ registration number and the approved UIC depth on the appropriate plan sheet.
How to decommission, retrofit, or close a UIC
DEQ must be notified a minimum of 30 days before decommissioning or retrofitting a UIC sump, as outlined in the City's UIC Management Plan Appendix D: Decommissioning Procedure for UIC Systems. An inspection is required prior to decommissioning. The inspection may lead to required sampling. Refer to Section 1.7.2 or the Stormwater Management Manual.
Is it planned or unplanned?
The decommissioning process depends on whether the UIC closure is planned in advance or discovered during project work, property acquisition, or as corrective action due to flooding or permit noncompliance.
City-owned UIC systems are decommissioned in accordance with UIC permit requirements and under the oversight of a licensed geologist or engineer. Project Managers work closely with the Environmental Services Coordinated Site Assessment Program (CSA) to ensure that the permit requirements are met by following the processes outlined below.
Process for planned decommissioning
Use this process when a City Project Manager already knows that a UIC will need to be decommissioned, retrofitted, or closed as part of a capital improvement project or other planned work.
Step 1: Submit work request to CSA
Project Managers submit a work request to BESCSAProgram@portlandoregon.govat 60-90% design whenever the closure of a UIC is part of a capital improvement project. Project Managers must also submit a work request to CSA whenever a UIC is discovered or is part of a land acquisition and is to be closed. Within the work order request, state the reason for decommissioning.
After receiving the work request, CSA conducts an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and a site investigation to determine whether sampling is required. The Project Manager works with CSA to schedule the site investigation.
If the UIC is discovered to be a prohibited UIC or is deemed high risk, the decommissioning process may require DEQ oversight and approval prior to decommissioning. Prohibited UICs are defined by OAR 340-044-0015(2).
Step 2: Sampling, disposal, and closure
Samples of sediment and water are to be collected when:
- a potential contamination source is identified within the UIC drainage area, or
- UIC contains a free product, or
- UIC is less than 5' separation distance to groundwater, or
- UIC is located within a 2-year travel time of or within 500 feet of a domestic or public water supply well.
If any sample results exceed applicable screening standards, the City determines whether there are likely impacts on soil or groundwater quality as a result of UIC operation. CSA and the Project Manager work together to develop a work plan for handling, hauling, and disposal of contaminated media prior to cleaning, as appropriate.
CSA will notify DEQ by email at least 30 days before closing the UIC system, and typically after any required sampling activities have been implemented. Once proper disposal methods have been determined, the Project Manager obtains authorization from CSA to close the UIC.
Note: If there is evidence of potential contamination (i.e., sheen or odor) in the UIC system during cleaning, the City will cease all work activities and sample the materials to characterize for proper disposal.
Close the UIC and provide CSA with documentation that describes how the following requirements were met:
- Confirm an approved alternate stormwater management system is in place before closure.
- Remove and properly dispose of materials at an appropriate facility.
- For sumps: remove the top cone and the first non-perf section to a minimum of 5', and fill the remainder of the sump with CLSM by overfilling and encapsulating drain rock, then add geotextile.
- Backfill the void per the appropriate specifications
- For horizontal UICs (perf pipes): install a permanent plug comprised of CLSM.
- For hybrid UICs, completely remove the overflow infiltration standpipe, excavate, and backfill with clean (native) soil.
- Disconnect/plug/seal all associated piping, rendering the system fully inoperable.
- Remove associated leads and sedimentation maintenance holes when feasible.
- Ensure this decommissioning process is overseen by a licensed geologist or engineer, per OAR 340-044-0040.
Step 3: Certification and reporting
The Project Manager provides CSA with all documentation needed for RG/PE certification for each UIC decommissioning.
Certified reports are submitted to DEQ by Environmental Services UIC.
Contacts:
- BESCSAProgram@portlandoregon.gov
- Boru Guyota, CSA Program, 503-823-8862
- John O'Donovan, CSA Program, 503-823-8997
- BESUIC@portlandoregon.gov
- Tracy Calandrella, Environmental Services UIC, 971-235-6372
- Joel Bowker, Environmental Services UIC, 971-235-6489
Process for unplanned closure
Use this process when a UIC is discovered unexpectedly or closure is needed. Examples of instances for an unplanned closure:
- during capital improvement project work when a UIC is discovered incidentally,
- UIC is discovered during a property acquisition, or
- as a corrective action due to flooding or permit noncompliance
Step 1: Take immediate actions for discovered, unmapped, or suspected UICs.
Submit a BES Stormwater O&M work request and include enough detail to have the UIC mapped and asset data recorded. For suspected UICs, BES Stormwater O&M will determine whether the asset is a UIC.
Then, submit a registration request to Environmental Services UIC. See the process on this page above.
Step 2: Submit work request to CSA
Project Managers submit a work request to BESCSAProgram@portlandoregon.govat 60-90% design whenever the closure of a UIC is part of a capital improvement project. Project Managers must also submit a work request to CSA whenever a UIC is discovered or is part of a land acquisition and is to be closed. Within the work order request, state the reason for decommissioning.
After receiving the work request, CSA conducts an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and a site investigation to determine whether sampling is required. The Project Manager works with CSA to schedule the site investigation.
If the UIC is discovered to be a prohibited UIC or is deemed high risk, the decommissioning process may require DEQ oversight and approval prior to decommissioning. Prohibited UICs are defined by OAR 340-044-0015(2).
Step 3: Sampling, disposal, and closure
Samples of sediment and water are to be collected when:
- a potential contamination source is identified within the UIC drainage area, or
- UIC contains a free product, or
- UIC is less than 5' separation distance to groundwater, or
- UIC is located within a 2-year travel time of or within 500 feet of a domestic or public water supply well.
If any sample results exceed applicable screening standards, the City determines whether there are likely impacts on soil or groundwater quality as a result of UIC operation. CSA and the Project Manager work together to develop a work plan for handling, hauling, and disposal of contaminated media prior to cleaning, as appropriate.
CSA will notify DEQ by email at least 30 days before closing the UIC system, and typically after any required sampling activities have been implemented. Once proper disposal methods have been determined, the Project Manager obtains authorization from CSA to close the UIC.
Note: If there is evidence of potential contamination (i.e., sheen or odor) in the UIC system during cleaning, the City will cease all work activities and sample the materials to characterize for proper disposal.
Close the UIC and provide CSA with documentation that describes how the following requirements were met:
- Confirm an approved alternate stormwater management system is in place before closure.
- Remove and properly dispose of materials at an appropriate facility.
- For sumps: remove the top cone and the first non-perf section to a minimum of 5', and fill the remainder of the sump with CLSM by overfilling and encapsulating drain rock, then add geotextile.
- Backfill the void per the appropriate specifications
- For horizontal UICs (perf pipes): install a permanent plug comprised of CLSM.
- For hybrid UICs, completely remove the overflow infiltration standpipe, excavate, and backfill with clean (native) soil.
- Disconnect/plug/seal all associated piping, rendering the system fully inoperable.
- Remove associated leads and sedimentation maintenance holes when feasible.
- Ensure this decommissioning process is overseen by a licensed geologist or engineer, per OAR 340-044-0040.
Step 4: Certification and reporting
The Project Manager provides CSA with all documentation needed for RG/PE certification for each UIC decommissioning.
Certified reports are submitted to DEQ by Environmental Services UIC.
Contacts:
- BESCSAProgram@portlandoregon.gov
- Boru Guyota, CSA Program, 503-823-8862
- John O'Donovan, CSA Program, 503-823-8997
- BESUIC@portlandoregon.gov
- Tracy Calandrella, Environmental Services UIC, 971-235-6372
- Joel Bowker, Environmental Services UIC, 971-235-6489
Related code and rules
The UIC permit requires permittees to adopt, update, and maintain adequate legal authority to control and enforce pollutant discharges. See related Portland City Code:
- Title 10 Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations outlines requirements for development and construction-related activities to control sediment and prevent erosion during construction and development.
- Chapter 17.38 Drainage and Water Quality sets requirements for managing stormwater, groundwater, and drainage to protect and improve water quality in Portland.
- Chapter 17.39 Storm System Discharges authorizes Environmental Services to ensure the City stormwater and drainage systems are operated in a manner that protects public health and the environment.