CRS Reports – Week of 11-25-23 – CO2 Pipelines

This last week, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a report on “Siting Challenges for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Pipelines”. The report provides an overview of some of the issues surrounding proposed CO2 pipelines to transport carbon dioxide for the purposes of carbons sequestration, a priority for the Biden Administration’s environmental initiatives.

The report includes a brief discussion about related pipeline safety issues:

“CO2 pipeline safety is a particular concern. The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has long regulated CO2 pipeline safety. However, a 2020 CO2 pipeline rupture near Satartia, MS, which required a local evacuation and caused 45 people to be hospitalized, prompted criticism from safety advocates about PHMSA’s existing regulations. In May 2022, PHMSA announced a rulemaking to update its CO2 pipeline safety standards. The agency plans to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in June 2024, but has not set a date for a final rule. On October 3, 2023, 13 Members of Congress wrote to President Biden asking for “a moratorium on any federal permitting of new carbon pipelines and related infrastructure until PHMSA’s safety regulations are finalized.” The proposed PIPES Act of 2023 (H.R. 6494) would require PHMSA to finalize its CO2 pipeline safety standards within a year of enactment.”

The text of HR 6494 has not yet been published by the GPO, but it would not be unreasonable for the CRS to have access to the submitted text.