On August 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revisions to its Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations that would exempt geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) from strict hazardous waste rules.
Carbon storage, also known as carbon sequestration, is a way of putting CO2 gas that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere—such as smokestack emissions from coal-fired power plants and large industrial operations— into “safekeeping.” Geologic sequestration, a method of carbon storage, involves injecting liquefied or “supercritical” CO2 deep underground. Carbon storage is seen as one possible strategy to help stabilize global CO2 emissions and reduce the impacts of climate change.
The EPA proposal would sanction geologic sequestration in wells designated for this purpose under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
According to Inside EPA’s Clean Energy Report, environmentalists are likely to renew earlier objections to the proposed exemption, because EPA regulates CO2 stream injections under underground injection control (UIC) rules for Class VI wells—a category they say imposes less rigorous requirements for waste management than would be possible under Class I hazardous waste wells. However, the EPA and industry proponents maintain that those technical requirements are intended to assess and manage hazards from landfill wastes, and are not feasible for CO2 injections
The agency stated that that it hoped to “reduce barriers to the use of CCS technologies.” It also noted that, “The proposal is consistent with recommendations made by President Obama’s interagency task force on CO2 sequestration and helps create a consistent national framework to ensure the safe and effective deployment of technologies that will help position the United States as a leader in the global clean energy race. “
EPA will accept public comments on the proposal for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. More information on the proposed rule is available at the EPA website.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.
Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Carrie Schmelkin
