The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is scheduled to meet July 19 to hear presentations on carbon capture, sequestration and storage by DEP’s Oil and Gas Program and an overview of proposed changes in the final draft Chapter 105 regulatory revisions.

The agenda also includes a report on agency activities by Ramez Ziadeh, Acting Secretary of DEP.

A written update to Council on DEP programs is also available.

Carbon Sequestration

Kurt Klapkowski, Acting DEP Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management will make the presentation to Council on carbon capture sequestration and storage from the standpoint of injection wells.

In April, Klapkowski gave an update to DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board on carbon capture sequestration and storage, including short term priorities and future regulatory framework. [2:31 in DEP’s recording of the meeting]

He noted the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes two competitive programs related to establishing regional hydrogen hubs generating hydrogen tied to a carbon capture and sequestration systems and a second one dealing directly with carbon capture.

In both cases, priorities for these programs are economically and environmentally disadvantaged communities and oil and gas producing states.

DEP said they are starting to think about requesting program authority from EPA for underground injection well regulation, including the Class VI wells that are frequently used in carbon sequestration.

Klapkowski noted under state law, the carbon sequestration wells would probably already be covered by the existing state Oil and Gas Act.

He said the process of getting authorization from EPA to regulate injection wells will not be easy or short and will include an analysis of their existing program response, financial and any statutory and regulation gaps.

Klapkowski said one of the approaches they are thinking of taking to build a program is incorporating federal regulations by references as DEP does with other programs.

Klapkowski said at the end of the day they think there are significant advantages to taking on this program, adding-- if they can navigate the [EPA] process and get the financial resources to do the program.

Chapter 105 Revisions

Andy Klinger, Program Manager, Bureau of Waterways and Wetlands, will present an overview of proposed changes being made in the final Chapter 105 regulations for one of the most basic permits all kinds of development is required to get from DEP.

Click Here for a copy of DEP’s presentation.  Click Here for the text of draft final regulations.

The Council agenda also includes a discussion of a transition paper the Council is preparing for the next Governor to identify key DEP issues.

Public Comments

Individuals interested in providing public comments during the meeting must sign up prior to the start of the meeting by contacting Keith Salador at ksalador@pa.gov  or 717-787-8171.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 12:30 p.m..  Click Here to register to participate online via WebEx.  The meeting will also be available by conference phone - 415-655-0003. ID#: 2633 230 6129.

For more information and available handouts, visit the DEP Citizens Advisory Council webpage.  Questions should be directed to Keith Salador, Executive Director, ksalador@pa.gov or 717-787-8171.

Related Articles:

-- PA Environmental Council: Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage In PA: A Story Map

-- DCNR Blog: Carbon Capture A Tool To Address Cause Of Climate Change

-- Wolf Administration Joins 6 States In Commitment To Develop Regional Carbon Dioxide Transport Infrastructure Plan To Promote Carbon Capture

-- Sen. Street Introduces Bill To Set A New Clean Energy Standard And Support Carbon Capture To Eliminate All Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Power Plants By 2050

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bill Promoting Carbon Capture, Utilization And Sequestration

[Posted: July 8, 2022]

7/11/2022