EDIT: As of March 18, the draft permit is being withdrawn to allow for technical corrections. The EPA has promised to repost an updated version shortly, alongside a new public notice. A fresh 30-day public comment period will follow to ensure full opportunity for review and feedback.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a draft Class VI permit and opened a public comment period for a proposed CO2 storage project in Weld County, Colorado.
The permit, developed under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program and authorized by the Safe Drinking Water Act, would allow Carbon Storage Solutions LLC to operate a Class VI injection well designed for permanent geologic sequestration of CO2. The proposed well, known as Front Range 1-1, is planned near the town of Windsor.
If approved, the project would involve injecting captured carbon dioxide deep underground into the Lyons Formation, at depths of approximately 8,876 to 8,958 feet below the surface.
The permit outlines monitoring, reporting and operational requirements intended to ensure that underground sources of drinking water are protected throughout the project lifecycle.
Injection depth waiver under review
Alongside the draft permit, the EPA is also evaluating an application for an injection depth waiver. This would allow CO2 to be stored in a formation located above the deepest underground source of drinking water, subject to additional regulatory scrutiny and safeguards.
According to the agency, multiple underground water sources exist within the broader area of review, but none are expected to be impacted by the proposed injection activities.
Consultations with the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment indicated that deeper formations in the region are not currently used and are unlikely to be used in the future as drinking water resources, due to depth and water quality constraints.
Relevant: Strategic Biofuels CCS Project Receives Draft Class VI Well Permit
The draft permit requires ongoing monitoring of the injection site, including pressure management and subsurface tracking, as well as regular reporting to EPA regulators.
The public consultation process is being conducted in accordance with federal permitting rules, with stakeholders invited to submit written comments on both the draft permit and the associated waiver request here under Docket # EPA-R08-OW-2026-1915.
The project forms part of a broader pipeline of Class VI permitting activity in the United States, as developers seek regulatory approval for large-scale carbon storage sites to support the deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies.
Read more: Lapis Carbon Solutions Files Class VI Permit For CCS Project In Illinois
