H.R. 4880: Primacy Certainty Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Primacy Certainty Act of 2025, proposes changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act focusing on state management of underground injection control programs for Class VI wells, which are used for the storage of carbon dioxide as part of efforts to combat climate change. The main points of the bill include:

Changes to Approval Timelines

The bill seeks to establish clearer timelines for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when it comes to approving or disapproving state applications for managing Class VI wells. Key changes include:

• The EPA must make a decision within 90 days of receiving a state's application.
• If the EPA does not respond within 180 days, it must provide a written explanation detailing the status of the application and the reasons for the delay.
• If there is no decision within 30 days after the 180-day period, the application is automatically deemed approved, provided the state has previously demonstrated adequate management of other types of underground injection wells.

Application Completeness

The bill establishes a 10-day deadline for the EPA to notify a state if its application is incomplete. If the EPA does not respond within that timeframe, the application will be considered administratively complete upon the state's request.

Pending Applications and Transfers

Upon approval of a state’s application, the EPA must prioritize the processing of any pending applications for Class VI wells in that state. Additionally, it will need to transfer all relevant pending permits and applications to the state once it assumes management responsibility.

Limitations on Denials

The bill specifies that the EPA can only deny a state application based on its criteria not being met, without imposing additional conditions beyond those required in the initial application.

Support for Pre-Application Activities

The EPA is required to facilitate activities that help states prepare for their applications, improving their chances of meeting the necessary criteria.

Resources and Reporting

Within 90 days of the bill's enactment, the EPA must report to Congress on the resources available to meet the new requirements and any additional funding needed.

Utilization of Existing Funds

The bill allows existing funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to be used for these new tasks, including the report mandated by this legislation.

Applicability

The changes apply to all applications submitted after the bill's enactment and also to those submitted before that were not yet approved, setting a new timeline for them as well.

Relevant Companies

• SLB (Schlumberger Limited) - A major player in the oilfield services sector that may be involved in carbon capture technology and could be affected by regulations surrounding Class VI wells.
• CCJ (Cameco Corporation) - While primarily a uranium producer, Cameco may also have interests in broader energy solutions, potentially intersecting with carbon capture and storage initiatives.