Indiana Seeks Permitting Primacy for Carbon Dioxide Storage Wells Amid Local Opposition
Indiana leaders are pursuing primary enforcement authority over carbon dioxide Class VI wells to streamline the permitting process. Nine applications for carbon sequestration projects are currently with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A bill in the Indiana General Assembly, House Bill 1368, would enable the Department of Natural Resources to oversee these permits. Currently, six states have Class VI primacy, including Texas and North Dakota.
While local ethanol producers support the initiative to expedite permits, skeptics raise concerns about the state's capacity to manage the program effectively. The Department of Natural Resources claims it can conduct reviews efficiently without a fiscal impact, leveraging existing expertise from oil and gas well regulations. The transition is motivated by the desire to enhance Indiana's competitiveness in the carbon capture sector.
