EPA Issues Draft Permits for Underground Injection Control Class VI Wells in Texas

Draft permits seek public input to ensure local communities and the environment are protected

DALLAS, TEXAS (September 4, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued draft Class VI permits to Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC for three proposed wells for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide in Ector County, Texas. These are the first draft permits that EPA has issued in Texas for Class VI wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act Underground Injection Control program, which establishes requirements to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination.

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Class VI injection wells store carbon dioxide deep underground that has been captured from an emissions source or the atmosphere. The proposed project, on former ranch land about 14 miles from the city of Odessa, includes three wells that will store about 722,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year at a depth of about 4,400 feet.

As part of its central role delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious climate and environmental justice agenda, EPA is following a rigorous, science-based process in implementing its Safe Drinking Water Act Underground Injection Control program.

In developing the draft permit, EPA required the company to provide specific analysis of the site to ensure that constructing and operating the proposed wells remains protective of the environment, including preventing contamination to underground sources of drinking water and human-caused seismicity. EPA evaluated these technical analyses, with support from experts at the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories, and additional data to verify that the site’s geology, other nearby underground activity, and project scope and operations would ensure that the permitted activity meets Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. EPA also required the company to ensure the plans are appropriate for conditions at and around the site, including construction materials, mechanical integrity, and emergency response planning.

Once permitted, Class VI wells require extensive monitoring for well integrity, groundwater quality, and CO2 movement. Well operators are also required to plan for emergencies and for how the well will be plugged after its lifespan. EPA also ensured the language in the draft permit is clear and enforceable under Safe Drinking Water Act regulations. While developing the draft permit, EPA met with local elected officials and emergency responders, community members, and property owners to explain the Class VI well program, listen to concerns, and answer questions. The draft permit is now open for public comment until October 7. EPA will host a public hearing on October 3. More details on the hearing will be available here: https://www.epa.gov/tx/uic-class-vi-permit-intent-issue-oxy-low-carbon-ventures-llc.

Comments on the draft permit can be submitted at www.regulations.gov under docket #EPA-R06-OW-2024-0410.

For more information on EPA’s Class VI Program, visit https://www.epa.gov/uic/class-vi-wells-used-geologic-sequestration-carbon-dioxide. 

Background

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA developed specific criteria to ensure that when carbon dioxide is stored underground to reduce greenhouse gases and confront climate change, underground sources of drinking water are protected. UIC Class VI injection wells are used to store underground carbon dioxide that has been captured from an emissions source or the atmosphere. Class VI injection wells—when used as a part of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects—are a critical tool for reducing carbon emissions to meet mid-century climate goals. CO2 is injected through specially constructed wells that deposit and store material deep beneath the earth in rock formations. These formations must be tested and evaluated to ensure that geologic formations are suitable for the safe containment of CO2 for long-term storage. This technology will provide well-paying jobs and can be implemented in an environmentally responsible way.

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