U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Congressman David B. McKinley (W.Va.) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging them to work expeditiously to approve applications from States that will allow them to assume responsibility (primacy) from EPA to store carbon dioxide securely underground.

This process is an integral part of the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).  The members requested an update on the implementation of permitting provisions for carbon dioxide storage included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Read the letter

In their letter to the EPA Administrator Reagan they write, “A key part of developing domestic deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is the ability to inject captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into deep rock formations, commonly referred to as geologic sequestration.”

They further state, “Section 40306 of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) included significant investments for states’ ability to permit, site and monitor carbon sequestration wells, so we hope that EPA moves expeditiously through the approval process, as to not discourage states from utilizing those opportunities. We therefore respectfully request an update on EPA’s efforts to implement section 40306, as well as the EPA’s plans to approve state applications to permit, site and monitor carbon sequestration wells.”

“To date, two states have obtained Class VI primacy, and a number of others, including West Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas, have undertaken steps to begin assuming primacy from EPA."

“We urge EPA to reaffirm its commitment to advancing much needed deployment of CCUS and work expeditiously to implement IIJA and its investments.”

Original source can be found here.