Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2

EPA is proposing Federal requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) for underground injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) for the purpose of geologic sequestration (GS). GS is one of a portfolio of options that could be deployed to reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and help to mitigate climate change. This proposal applies to owners or operators of wells that will be used to inject CO2 into the subsurface for the purpose of long-term storage. It proposes a new class of well and minimum technical criteria for the geologic site characterization, fluid movement, area of review (AoR) and corrective action, well construction, operation, mechanical integrity testing, monitoring, well plugging, post-injection site care, and site closure for the purposes of protecting underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). The elements of this proposal are based on the existing Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulatory framework, with modifications to

Agency Contact: Lee Whitehurst, Underground Injection Control Program, Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC-4606M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: