[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 168 (Thursday, August 28, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50740-50741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19998]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 144 and 146

[EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0390; FRL-8709-8]
RIN 2040-AE98


Proposed Federal Requirements Under the Underground Injection 
Control (UIC) Program for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Geologic Sequestration 
(GS) Wells; Notice of Public Hearings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding two 
public hearings to solicit public comment on the recently proposed 
regulations for the underground injection of carbon dioxide 
(CO2) for geologic sequestration under the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (SDWA). The SDWA requires EPA to protect underground sources 
of drinking water. The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program 
works with States, Territories, and Tribes to regulate underground 
injection activities and

[[Page 50741]]

prevent endangerment of drinking water sources. These hearings will 
provide interested parties with an opportunity to provide oral comments 
on the proposed rule. The oral comments will become part of the 
official rule-making record.

DATES: The hearings will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., CDT, September 
30, 2008 in Chicago, IL, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., MDT, October 2, 2008 in 
Denver, CO.

ADDRESSES: In Chicago, IL the hearing will be held at the Ralph H. 
Metcalfe Federal Building, 77 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604. 
The Denver, CO hearing will be at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 
14th St., Denver, CO 80202. Due to capacity limitations, we encourage 
you to indicate your intent to participate through pre-registration. To 
pre-register, for directions, and for site specific information, please 
visit the following Web site: http://gshearing.cadmusweb.com/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about these 
public hearings, please contact Mary Rose (Molly) Bayer by phone (202) 
564-1981, by e-mail at [email protected], or by mail at: U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 4606M, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 25, 2008 at 73 FR 43491, EPA 
proposed requirements for underground injection of carbon dioxide for 
geologic sequestration. The proposal included a request for public 
comment and also described EPA's intent to convene public hearings on 
the proposed rule. This notice provides information about the dates and 
locations for those hearings. The proposed rule applies to owners or 
operators of wells that will be used to inject CO2 into the 
subsurface for the purpose of long-term storage. It proposes a new 
class of well (Class VI) and technical criteria for the geologic site 
characterization, area of review (AoR) and corrective action, well 
construction, operation, mechanical integrity testing, monitoring, well 
plugging, post-injection site care, and site closure for the purposes 
of protecting underground sources of drinking water.
    For more information on Geologic Sequestration and the Underground 
Injection Control Program, please visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/index.html. To submit written comments, the docket can be viewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov (Docket Id: EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0390). Comments 
on the proposed rule must be received by November 24, 2008.

Special Accommodations

    For information on access or services for individuals with 
disabilities, please contact Mary Rose (Molly) Bayer at (202) 564-1981 
or [email protected]. To request accommodation of a disability, 
please contact Mary Rose Bayer, preferably at least 10 days prior to 
the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your 
request.

    Dated: August 21, 2008.
Nanci Gelb,
Deputy Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. E8-19998 Filed 8-27-08; 8:45 am]
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