Texas congressmen urge expedited review of state's carbon capture permit authority

Congressmen Dan Crenshaw and August Pfluger have called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expedite the review process for Texas Railroad Commission's application to gain primary enforcement responsibility over Class VI underground injection control wells. These wells are crucial for advancing carbon capture technology in Texas.

The EPA currently faces a backlog of over 160 Class VI well applications, with only eight final permit decisions made so far. The average permitting time ranges from three to six years. If the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) is granted authority, project developers could bypass the slow federal approval process and apply directly to the RRC, which has extensive experience managing Texas' geology.

"Expediting the review of the RRC’s application is a win-win," stated Congressman Crenshaw. "Carbon capture is one of the most promising tools we have to reduce emissions and secure our nation’s energy future. If we hand the reins to the Texas Railroad Commission, an agency with the know-how and local expertise, we can cut the permitting backlog dramatically. That means fewer delays, more investment, and more jobs for Texans—and it means we get serious about reducing emissions."

Congressman Pfluger also expressed his support: "No one knows how to produce energy better or more efficiently than Texas. I look forward to Administrator Zeldin's EPA putting the power back in the hands of state regulators who are most knowledgeable about their own geology, like the Railroad Commission of Texas."

The letter sent by Crenshaw and Pfluger outlines that RRC’s application complies with all statutory requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and emphasizes RRC's strong regulatory frameworks for subsurface injection activities. It also notes that timely approval could set a precedent for other states aiming to advance their carbon capture projects.