First, primacy over Class VI wells – which are wells that are used to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations, a process known as carbon capture and sequestration / storage (CCS) – would mean that Louisiana would become the third state in the country to fully oversee all permitting and regulation of CCS projects in the state (the other two are Wyoming and North Dakota).
Second, these three days of public hearings were originally scheduled for four hours this week – but so many stakeholders and members of the public were interested in providing public testimony that the EPA had no choice but to reschedule and extend hearings to allow for participation.
Giving Louisiana primacy over Class VI wells, and therefore over CCS projects, would be a mistake. While proponents of CCS like to claim that the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources requires more rigorous permitting and monitoring than the EPA, the fact of the matter is that LDNR, as well as Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality – which is responsible for environmental oversight of air and water – have poor track records of sufficiently monitoring our existing pipeline and well infrastructure. Allowing the state to rubber stamp CCS projects will only increase the number of wells and pipelines that should be overseen, but won’t be, due to lack of capacity on the part of these state agencies.
Make your voice heard! Submit a public comment here, until July 3, 2023.
While registration for public testimony at the hearing on Wednesday, June 21st (scheduled for 1pm-8pm) is closed, you can still attend, and we encourage you to join us there! You will still have an opportunity to speak that day – time permitting.
Location: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, LaBelle Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
