Sec. 13. (a) A certificate of project completion shall be issued upon the application from the storage operator if the department finds that the storage operator does the following:

(1) The storage operator is in compliance with all applicable laws governing the storage facility.

(2) The storage operator shows that the storage facility is reasonably expected to retain the carbon dioxide stored therein.

(3) The storage operator shows that the carbon dioxide in the storage facility is stable by showing that either:

(A) the stored carbon dioxide is essentially stationary; or

(B) if the stored carbon migrates, migration will be unlikely to cross the boundaries of the storage facility.

(4) The storage operator shows that all wells, equipment, and facilities used after the closure period are in good condition and retain mechanical integrity.

(5) The storage operator shows that injection wells have been plugged.

(6) The storage operator shows that equipment and facilities, not including fixed structures and long term monitoring equipment and wells, have been removed.

(7) The storage operator proves that the reclamation work required by the department where the project ceases to inject carbon dioxide is completed.

(8) The following with respect to site closure:

(A) The storage operator has provided a notice of intent for site closure to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(B) The United States Environmental Protection Agency has authorized site closure.

(C) The storage operator has provided to the United States Environmental Protection Agency:

(i) the site closure report required under 40 C.F.R. § 146.93(f) (as in effect January 1, 2022); or

(ii) a comparable report to the state regulatory body if the state assumes primacy for UIC Class VI permitting.

     (b) The department shall issue a certificate of project completion not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after receiving an application from the storage operator. If the department determines that the application for a certificate of project completion is incomplete, inaccurate, or both, the department shall return the application to the storage operator.

     (c) If the department returns the application to the storage operator under subsection (b), the department shall inform the storage operator, in writing, of the deficiencies of the submitted application and inform the storage operator of the right to file a corrected application with the department.

     (d) Once a certificate of completion is issued, the following occurs:

(1) The state will assume ownership of and responsibility for the storage facility.

(2) The state will assume responsibility for all regulatory requirements associated with the storage facility, and the storage operator and the owner of the storage facility are released from responsibility for all regulatory requirements associated with the storage facility.

(3) The state will assume any potential liability associated with the storage facility.

     (e) Unless there is documentation to the contrary, the storage operator has title to the carbon dioxide injected into and stored in a storage facility, and the storage operator holds title until the department issues a certificate of completion.

As added by P.L.163-2022, SEC.2.