The agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to montana board of oil and gas conservation

This $1,930,000 Project Grant, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Grants: Class VI Carbon Sequestration Wells (CFDA 66.486), will enable the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for managing Class VI underground injection control wells.

The key activities funded under this award include: developing state-level Class VI regulations, preparing a UIC primacy application, creating data management systems, conducting stakeholder outreach and public engagement (with a focus on environmental justice communities), and setting up permit review processes. These efforts will equip DNRC with the necessary expertise and capabilities to safely permit and oversee carbon dioxide sequestration wells, protect underground drinking water sources, and support climate change mitigation. The award period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2029, during which time DNRC plans to submit its primacy application and fully operationalize its Class VI injection well program.

The recipient will establish their underground injection control class VI injection wells permit program.activities:the activities include class VI regulatory development; development of a program submission; development of general program procedures and resources; initial or ongoing staffing; initial primacy application activities; environmental justice integration; general initial and ongoing outreach and communication for program; stakeholder engagement and public participation; outreach and communications specific to individual class VI projects; data management; primacy application submittal; and reporting to EPA.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include submission of a class VI primacy application to EPA; promulgation of state class VI regulations; incorporation of environmental justice principles and engagement; outreach activities completed to general and project-specific stakeholders and communities with environmental justice concerns; and attendance at class VI-related conferences. The expected outcomes include successful approval of state class VI primacy program; protection of underground sources of drinking water from endangerment; prevention of potential human health and, as appropriate, environmental effects from UIC class VI activity on marginalized, overburdened, and tribal communities, or other communities with potential environmental justice concerns; prevention, as appropriate, of any increase in environmental impacts, resource issues, and public health risks from class VI activity in already overburdened communities; and reduction of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and mitigation of climate change. The intended beneficiaries include the residents of montana.