April 14, 2026 - The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final Class VI underground injection permit to PureField Carbon Capture in Kansas, marking a regional first for carbon storage development in the Midwest. The approval applies to a project located near Russell, Kansas, and represents the first permit of its kind across the agency’s Region 7, which includes several central states.

Class VI wells are specifically designed for the long-term storage of carbon dioxide in deep geological formations, a process known as geologic sequestration. 

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA is responsible for ensuring that such projects do not compromise underground sources of drinking water, with permitting decisions guided by site-specific geological assessments.

The PureField project will capture carbon dioxide generated from ethanol production and inject it deep underground for permanent storage. The permit authorizes injection over a 12-year operational period, with an annual capacity of up to 150,000 metric tons of CO2. In total, the facility is cleared to store as much as 1.8 million metric tons over the lifetime of the injection phase.

Long-Term Monitoring and Storage Assurance

The captured CO2 will be stored within the Arbuckle formation, a deep saline reservoir located more than 3,400 feet below ground. This type of geology is commonly targeted for carbon storage due to its capacity and ability to securely contain injected gases over long timescales.

To ensure environmental safety, the permit includes extensive monitoring and verification requirements. PureField must conduct continuous testing throughout the injection period and maintain oversight of the site for 50 years after operations cease. 

These long-term obligations are intended to confirm that the stored CO2 remains contained and does not pose risks to surrounding ecosystems or water resources.

The approval highlights continued progress in deploying carbon capture and storage infrastructure across the United States, particularly in regions with strong agricultural and biofuel industries. 

By linking ethanol production with geologic storage, the project reflects a growing trend toward integrating carbon management into existing industrial systems.

As regulatory frameworks evolve, Class VI permitting is expected to play a central role in enabling the scale-up of permanent carbon storage projects nationwide.