EPA
Rule Provides a Clear Pathway for Using Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Technologies
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that helps create a consistent national
framework to ensure the safe and effective deployment of carbon capture
and sequestration (CCS) technologies.
“Carbon capture and sequestration technology can help us reduce carbon
pollution and move us toward a cleaner, more stable environment,” said
Mathy Stanislaus, EPA assistant administrator for Solid Waste and
Emergency Response. “Today’s rule provides regulatory clarity to help
facilitate the implementation of this technology in a safe and
responsible way.”
CCS technologies allow carbon dioxide to be captured at stationary
sources - like coal-fired power plants and large industrial operations -
and injected underground for long-term storage in a process called
geologic sequestration.
The new rule clarifies that carbon dioxide streams captured from
emission sources, injected underground via UIC Class VI wells approved
for the purpose of geologic sequestration under the Safe Drinking Water
Act, and meeting certain other conditions (e.g., compliance with
applicable transportation regulations), will be excluded from EPA’s
hazardous waste regulations. Further, EPA clarifies that carbon dioxide
injected underground via UIC Class II wells for enhanced oil recovery
(EOR) is not expected to be a waste management activity.
EPA concluded that the careful management of carbon dioxide streams
under the specified conditions does not present a substantial risk to
human health or the environment. EPA’s determination will help provide a
clear pathway for the deployment of CCS technologies in a safe and
environmentally protective manner while also ensuring protection of
underground sources of drinking water.
Today’s rule is complementary to previous EPA rulemakings, including
Safe Drinking Water Act regulations that ensure the Class VI injection
wells are appropriately sited, constructed, tested, monitored, and
closed.
EPA is also releasing draft guidance for public comment that provides
information regarding transitioning Class II wells used to inject carbon
dioxide for oil and gas development to Class VI wells used for carbon
capture and sequestration. The comment period for the draft guidance is
75 days.
Information on the final rule –
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/industrial/geo-sequester/
Information on the Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide:
http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/wells_sequestration.cfm
Read the draft guidance on transitioning from Class II to Class VI
wells:
http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class6/gsguidedoc.cfm
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