Webinar: Scrubbing the Skies -Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide: The State of Responsible Primacy
March 25, 12-1 pm CST, hosted by the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal
Industrial carbon capture and carbon dioxide removal are important strategies to reach global and national net zero CO2 emissions targets and to keep global temperatures at or below 1.5°C. The most common setting for permanently sequestering CO2 after it has been captured is underground, in very deep, impermeable rock formations. To regulate and monitor the sequestered CO2, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with administering the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program, whereby it sets regulatory standards and processes applications for underground wells with the goal of preventing contamination of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act. A new issue brief from the National Wildlife Federation – Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide: The State of Responsible Primacy – examines the question of who should have authority over carbon storage wells: states or the federal government, an issue known as “primacy.” It includes details on what it takes to successfully permit a carbon storage well, why the federal government has encouraged states to apply for primacy, and how states like North Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana came to acquire primacy. The panelists, Jake Ferrell and Dr. Simone H. Stewart, will discuss their recommendations for ensuring primacy is done responsibly, with an emphasis on environmental justice and community engagement.