In December 2023, the U.S. Forest Service proposed to exempt carbon capture and storage from their policy to prohibit perpetual and exclusive use of forest system lands. This Rule change would allow the federal government to lease our national forests for the storage of liquid CO2 (carbon) in subsurface pore spaces.
This proposed Rule is another radical left environmentalist agenda item that the current Administration is being pushed to put in place before the 2024 election. Like other recent federal agency proposals, it failed to provide adequate notice to stakeholders (national forest host communities and residents) and had a short comment period.
The AFA submitted a comment letter on January 2, 2024, opposing this Rule change based on:
- Environmental and human risks associated with CO2 storage using injection wells which would require preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement
- The limits of subsurface capacity and suitability to contain the volumes of CO2 proposed to be sequestered now and in the future
- Legal issues relating to private property encroachment and damages liability
- Disproportionately high and adverse impacts on the health and economies of low income rural populations
- Inadequate notice and opportunity for minority and low-income populations to participate in the comment opportunity
- Dangers to the ecosystem (plants, animals, groundwater, soil, and humans) posed by potential CO2 leakage from its subsurface storage
- The unproven technology and permanent maintenance and monitoring needed by the storage wells
This proposed Rule has not yet been either approved or withdrawn. However, a bill was proposed in the House of Representatives (H.R.7054 – Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2024) in January 2024 which would require the Secretary of Energy to remove carbon dioxide directly from the air and sea water for sequestration beginning immediately. How and where it would be sequestered is not addressed, which indicates we have not heard the last of the plan to store it beneath our national forests. Also concerning is the fact that, if it becomes law, H.R.7054 would cost American tax payers $15.825 billion through 2034, and another $1.5 billion annually thereafter.
We are watching for more on this threat to our national forest lands and communities and will continue to fight against its implementation. Stand with us in commenting on such efforts and support our work by becoming a member today.