Wyoming CO2 pipeline initiative receives EIS

The State of Wyoming is proposing a roughly 2,000-mile pipeline network—the Wyoming Pipeline Corridor Initiative (WPCI)—reserved for use and transport of carbon dioxide (CO₂), enhanced oil recovery (EOR) products, and other compatible uses to be designated on US Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed lands in Wyoming through the land use planning process. WPCI was originally proposed in 2012.

BLM has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and draft resources management plant (RMP) amendments for the project. Amendments would designate new corridors that may support future carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) projects in Wyoming.

The network would comprise 25 segments of pipeline on BLM-managed lands and associated RMPs. The proposed WPCI corridors are divided into segments based on proposed width and the regions they will service.

BLM plans to analyze the State’s proposal by preparing an EIS. Based on the findings of the EIS process, the BLM may amend the nine RMPs containing lands proposed for pipeline corridors to designate those corridors. Current RMPs are within the BLM Cody, Worland, Buffalo, Casper, Lander, Pinedale, Kemmerer, Rawlins, and Rock Springs field office jurisdictions.

The BLM is analyzing four alternatives:

• Alternative A—No Action Alternative: Under the no action alternative no new corridors would be designated, no RMPs would be amended, and management of existing corridors would remain the same.
• Alternative B—Proposed Action: Designates new corridors reserved for transport of CO₂, EOR products, and other compatible uses. Portions (200-300 ft wide) of existing corridors would be reserved for pipelines associated with CO₂, EOR products, and other uses as outlined in the state of Wyoming proposal. Additional corridors would be designated both in sage grouse priority habitat management areas (PHMA) and outside of PHMA as proposed by Wyoming.
• Alternative C: Maintains existing management in existing corridors and creates new corridors reserved for CO₂, EOR products, and other compatible uses. Routes would be modified or eliminated from the proposal to avoid resource conflicts, sage grouse PHMA, pre-existing rights, existing uses, and infrastructure. Use of existing corridors would be maximized. Management of existing corridors would remain the same and would not be reserved for transport of CO₂, EOR products, and other compatible uses. Additional new corridors (200-300 ft wide) would be created for the transport of CO₂, EOR products, and other compatible uses. Additional corridors would be not be created in sage grouse PHMA.
• Alternative D: The agency preferred alternative dedicates portions of existing corridors and creates new corridors reserved for the transport of CO₂, EOR products, and other compatible uses. Routes would be modified or eliminated from the proposal to avoid resource conflicts, sage grouse PHMA, pre-existing rights, existing uses, and infrastructure. Portions (200-300 ft wide) of existing corridors would be reserved for transport of CO₂, EOR products, and other compatible uses. Additional corridors would be not be created in sage grouse PHMA.