04/10/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/10/2026 14:40
Permit is first-of-its-kind in Region 7
April 10, 2026
LENEXA, KAN. (APR. 10, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 issued a final Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI well permit to PureField Carbon Capture, LLC, near the city of Russell, Kansas. It is the first Class VI well permit in Kansas and across Region 7's four Heartland states.
Class VI wells inject carbon dioxide (CO2) into deep rock formations for long-term storage. This injection process is also called geologic sequestration. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA has authority to protect underground sources of drinking water and make permitting decisions based on underlying geology.
"This permit exemplifies EPA's support of domestic energy production and unleashing American energy dominance," said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy. "We'll continue to advance projects that grow rural economies while fulfilling the agency's core mission of protecting human health and the environment."
Through this permit, the PureField facility near Russell is allowed to inject CO2 generated during ethanol production into the subsurface for a period of 12 years. The company is authorized to inject up to 150,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, for a total permitted injection volume of 1.8 million metric tons of CO2. The CO2 must be injected into the Arbuckle rock formation at a depth between 3,448 and 3,606 feet below ground surface.
To ensure safety, PureField is required to test and monitor the well and the area overlying the injection zone during the 12-year injection period, and for 50 years after injection has ended. A copy of the permit and associated documents are available.
Visit EPA's Class VI wells webpagefor more information on Class VI projects.
EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy signs a letter authorizing carbon dioxide injection under Kansas' first Class VI well permit during a meeting with PureField Carbon Capture Chief Executive Officer Aaron Buettner on April 10, 2026. (Photo credit: U.S. EPA)# # #
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