EPA's Call For States To Seek CCS Permit Primacy Spurs Advocates' Fears

摘要

A recent EPA push for states to seek delegated "primacy" authority to issue federal water permits for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects is prompting concern from environmentalists, who say it is "alarming" because the permit program is only in its early stages and EPA has not approved the sole pending primacy request. One industry source adds that the agency should quickly approve North Dakota's application for primacy to issue Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) "Class Ⅵ" permits for CCS under the law's underground injection control (UIC) program, which has been pending since June 2013. Granting the request is vital if EPA "wants to demonstrate it is earnest" about encouraging CCS projects to move forward and for other states to seek primacy, the source says.