On April 1, 2020, the EPA Administrator signed a proposed rule asking for public input on the Agency’s intent to approve the State of Wyoming’s request to have primary responsibility (primacy) for enforcing regulation of Class VI wells under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program. Once final, Wyoming will be the second state, along with North Dakota, that has received primacy for Class VI UIC wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which can be used for storage of carbon dioxide captured from industrial and energy related sources.
After conducting a thorough review, EPA has determined that the State of Wyoming meets the requirements to implement and enforce a Class VI injection program. EPA requested public comments on the Agency’s decision by May 29, 2020 in the Federal Register, docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2020-0123.
- Federal Register Notice: Wyoming Underground Injection Control Program; Class VI Primacy
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Federal Register Notice: Wyoming Underground Injection Control Program: Class VI Primacy (PDF)(4 pp, 286 K)
The EPA proposes to approve the application from Wyoming under the SDWA to implement a UIC program for Class VI injection wells located within the State, except those on Indian country. This revision would allow the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to issue UIC permits for geologic carbon sequestration facilities as Class VI wells and ensure compliance of Class VI wells with applicable requirements under the UIC program.