EPA grants West Virginia Class VI well primacy
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted West Virginia primary enforcement responsibility of Class VI wells under the Underground Injection Control Program.
The state is the fourth—after Louisiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming—given primary authority by EPA to oversee and administer its Class VI program, known as primacy. The authority allows the state to permit wells designed to inject carbon dioxide (CO2) into deep rock formations which serve as critical infrastructure for deploying carbon capture, utilization, and storage projects.
US Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, made the announcement Jan. 17.
“I have frequently said that the states are better suited than Washington to carry out this authority and get these projects up and running. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage is essential to protecting our ability to provide reliable, baseload power in West Virginia through coal and natural gas, while reducing our power and manufacturing sector emissions,” Chairman Capito said.
On its website, the EPA said authority was granted after considering written comments and input from an all-day public hearing on Dec. 30, 2024, and determining that the State of West Virginia’s Class VI UIC program meets all requirements for approval.
Senator Capito introduced legislation in May 2023 to streamline state primacy applications for Class VI wells.
Mikaila Adams | Managing Editor - News
Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was named Managing Editor - News in 2019. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.
