16-05-2025
EPA proposes granting Arizona permitting power for CO2 wells
EPA on Thursday proposed granting Arizona primary oversight over carbon dioxide injection wells, in a win for the carbon capture industry.
Arizona would be the fifth state to gain 'primacy' over the Class VI wells, which are used to inject CO2 deep underground for long-term storage. Since 2018, EPA has delegated the same authority to North Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana and, most recently, West Virginia.
The push to speed up permitting for Class VI wells is a rare example of continuity between the Biden and Trump administrations. The Biden administration pushed for faster processing of permits to help meet its climate goals, as EPA struggled to keep up with a backlog.
Advertisement
The Trump administration has similarly encouraged states to take on the role of regulating the wells. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has directed his agency to 'fast-track' its reviews of state primacy requests.
