Agency notes first deep‑geothermal permit application, says EPA primacy request for Class VI wells is in final review

Sabrina, director of the Cumulative Impacts Unit, told attendees the agency has received a first permit application for a deep geothermal project and described that project as a first‑of‑its‑kind effort to generate low‑ or zero‑emissions electricity from deep ground heat.

She also outlined the agency’s recent steps to regulate carbon capture and storage (CCS) injection wells. "En 2023, tras la aprobación del proyecto de ley del Senado 23016, la ICMC recibió la autoridad para regular los costos de clase 6 en Colorado," Sabrina said, and she added that the agency submitted Colorado’s primacy application to EPA last October. According to staff, EPA Region 8 declared the application complete earlier this year and the public comment period closed on May 4.

Staff said the geothermal permit and the Class VI primacy application are separate activities: the geothermal application is a site‑level OGDP submission and staff will apply the agency’s cumulative‑impact review tools (Form 2B and the cumulative impact analysis) when evaluating that project. The agency said it will brief the commission on the status of geothermal permitting and the Class VI program on July 1.

The presentation did not include a final EPA decision. The staff’s statements describe ongoing administrative steps (application submission, EPA completeness determination, and a closed public comment period) but do not record EPA’s grant of primacy or the final regulatory framework.