Screenshot of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin signing a proposal to approve Arizona's request to oversee Safe Drinking Water Act permiting for underground injection wells on Thursday, May 15, 2025. U.S. Congressmen Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani and Paul Gosar were in attendance.
The Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with Arizona’s request to oversee permitting for underground injection wells.
During a signing ceremony today, agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said that this action would grant primary enforcement responsibility to the state.
“This is to grant class one through six primacy to the state of Arizona,” Zeldin said, noting that the agency received the state’s request around February 2024.
Congressman Juan Ciscomani described the announcement as more than regulatory authority and an example of the agency keeping its promises and pulling back red tape on natural resource projects.
“It’s about trust in Arizona’s ability to manage its own resources and protect our communities,” Ciscomani said.
Congressman Andy Biggs said the EPA is helping facilitate Arizona regain control of its own environmental issues.
“We’re talking literally hundreds of millions of acre feet of water that are sitting below that we need to be able to regulate,” Biggs said.
Congressman Paul Gosar praised the agency for moving quickly to review and approve long delayed projects.
“The approval of this project in Arizona will provide much needed certainty for the fast growing carbon capture industry and will maintain America’s leadership in deploying these technologies,” Gosar said.
The agency’s proposed approval includes state permitting for Class VI wells for underground storage of carbon dioxide.
The EPA is requesting public comments on the proposed decision within 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.
This action falls under the EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative” intended to prioritize clean water, restore energy dominance, and advance cooperative federalism.
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