1. GEOLOGIC CARBON SEQUESTRATION
According to EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), Geologic Carbon
Sequestration (GS) is the process of injecting carbon dioxide (CO2), captured from an industrial
(e.g., steel and cement production) or energy-related source (e.g., a power plant or natural gas
processing facility), into deep subsurface rock formations for long-term storage. This is part of a
process frequently referred to as “carbon capture and storage” or CCS. (http://water.epa.gov/)
Geologic carbon sequestration is the method of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from
stationary sources before it is released to the atmosphere and then putting it into long-term
storage.CO2, after captured, is secluded or ‘sequestered’ to an appropriate site in geological
zones deep underground, below impermeable cap rock, or approximately 7000 feet from the
ground as determined by the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC). According
to DOE, three types of geological formations are sought: unmineable coal seams, depleted oil
and gas reservoirs, and deep saline reservoirs, which have the most potential. From this
activity, it is believed that it has the potential to reduce the level of carbon and release of carbon
dioxide (CO2) that occurs in the atmosphere.
Is geologic carbon sequestration safe?
According to a professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences Course from Cornell
University, the natural accumulation of CO2 underground and industry’s use of CO2 for
Enhanced Oil Recovery suggest that geologic sequestration can be safe if carefully planned and
executed. Leakage of injected CO2 through rock fractures or abandoned wells and its return to
the surface would be counter-productive and needs further study. Some of the environmental
concerns related to shale gas development apply to CO2 sequestration. The risk of earthquake
inducement needs careful consideration.
Likewise with EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), they suggest to
have requirements for geologic sequestration in support of their underground injection control. It
includes the development of a new class of wells to protect underground sources of drinking
water. It has extensive tailored requirements that address carbon dioxide injection for long-term
storage to ensure that wells used for geologic sequestration are appropriately sited,
constructed, tested, monitored, funded, and closed.

2. EPA ISSUES FINAL GEOLOGIC CARBON SEQUESTRATIONREGULATIONS
ENERGY SOLUTIONS FORUM
January 14, 2014
EPA has issued final Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations to
conditionally exclude carbon dioxide (CO2) streams in geologic sequestration activities
from the definition of hazardous waste.
On January 3, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final revisions
for hazardous waste management under RCRA to conditionally exclude CO2 streams from the
definition of hazardous waste if they are injected into Underground Injection Control Class VI
wells for geologic sequestration and meet certain additional conditions. EPA proposed the
regulation in August 2011 after determining that CO2 streams managed under certain conditions
would not pose substantial health and environmental risks and hence, additional regulations
pursuant to RCRA hazardous waste management would be unnecessary.
Among the key revisions, EPA amended the condition for CO2 transportation in
compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements by adding reference to
applicable state pipeline regulations in certain situations. Some states have DOT-certified rules
to regulate transportation of supercritical CO2 while others are directly regulated by DOT for
interstate and intrastate pipelines. The amendment refers to compliance with state-
administered regulations to reflect situations where pipeline facilities must comply with state
rather than federal regulation.
Geologic sequestration, a vital component of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS),
is the process of injecting CO2 captured from power plants and other emission sources into
subsurface rock formations to permanently isolate CO2. CCS involves three steps: capture and
compression of CO2 from emission sources, transportation of captured CO2 as supercritical
stream via pipelines to injection site, and underground injection for the purpose of sequestration.
EPA expects the revisions to substantially reduce uncertainty associated with identifying
CO2 streams under RCRA and increase regulatory certainty to facilitate deployment of geologic
sequestration technologies. The final rule applies to generators, transporters, and facilities
engaged in treatment, storage, and disposal of CO2 streams that would otherwise fall under
RCRA’s hazardous waste category. It aims to overcome potential barriers to implementation of
CCS technology without which coal-fired power plants cannot meet upcoming CO2 emission
standards. The rule will take effect on March 4, 2014.
Source: http://breakingenergy.com/2014/01/14/epa-issues-final-geologic-carbon-sequestration-
regulations/