UTAH BOARD OF OIL, GAS AND MINING
Class VI Primacy Application
Summary:
The Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (OGM) is seeking primacy from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Class VI Carbon Sequestration. A copy of the application is available at https://ogm.utah.gov/board-rulemaking/. The complete primacy application was submitted to the EPA, in accordance with 40 CFR § 145.31, on December 23, 2025 and is currently under review. For additional information you may contact UIC Program Manager Richard Powell at richardpowell@utah.gov.
Primacy will give OGM regulatory oversight of the permitting, construction, operation, compliance and closure of class VI carbon sequestration wells on all lands except those designated as "Indian Country,” which the EPA will continue to regulate.
OGM’s UIC Class VI carbon sequestration well program will be funded through fees to cover the administrative costs of considering an application for a permit, regulation of storage facility construction, operations, pre-closure activities, and long-term monitoring and management of a closed UIC Class VI storage facility.
This action does not represent a position on climate change or the merits of carbon sequestration, but rather reflects OGM’s commitment to ensuring responsible, efficient, and timely regulation of carbon sequestration projects within the state. Primacy will also support regulatory consistency, provide greater certainty to industry, and enable more responsive oversight. With a team of professionals highly knowledgeable in subsurface geology and deep well drilling, OGM is well-positioned to manage Utah's carbon sequestration program effectively.