🎙️Energy News: Pipeline and Gas Journal’s recent article on property rights and pipeline regulation in Weld County, Colorado highlights significant developments in the county’s efforts to prioritize private property rights while advancing critical pipeline infrastructure. It’s particularly of interest for professionals in #CarbonCapture.
Weld County is seeking greater control over Class VI injection wells—the same wells used for long-term CO2 storage. This move could mirror federal efforts in states like Louisiana and North Dakota, which have been granted primacy over such wells.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ Local Regulatory Authority:
Weld County created its own Oil and Gas Energy Department (WCOGED) in response to Colorado’s Senate Bill 19-181, which allows counties more control over O&G development. The county now regulates pipelines and O&G wells within its borders, which includes future oversight of Class VI CO2 injection wells. This gives local authorities significant influence over how projects, including carbon sequestration, are permitted and managed.
2️⃣ Private Property Rights:
Over 90% of Weld County is zoned for agricultural use, and pipelines smaller than 12 inches can be installed as “use-by-right” within these areas. Larger pipelines, often part of carbon sequestration projects, must undergo a Location Assessment Permit (LAP) process, which involves public feedback and careful review to ensure the rights of private landowners are respected.
3️⃣ Permitting Insights:
The WCOGED oversees the permitting for pipelines larger than 12 inches in diameter and requires permits for crossing under county roads. The county recently updated its regulatory framework, adding clarity to the permitting process for injection wells and other infrastructure, positioning itself to take on more regulatory responsibility, particularly for Class VI wells. This could impact how carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure is developed locally.
Read the full article to gain insight into how land use, zoning, and private property rights intersect with the future of carbon capture and storage.
#Landmen #CarbonSequestration #CCS #OilAndGas #Pipelines
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