The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is applying for federal authority to regulate wells used for underground carbon dioxide storage and will hold a public hearing on May 14, 2026, at 10 a.m.

If approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, Alaska would directly oversee Class VI wells, which inject carbon dioxide underground for long-term storage. Written comments on the application must be submitted by the end of the May 14 hearing.

The commission must demonstrate its program meets federal standards for protecting underground drinking water sources. Currently, the EPA directly regulates these specialized injection wells, but states can apply to take over enforcement.

The public hearing will be held at the commission's office at 333 West 7th Avenue in Anchorage. Remote participation is available by calling (907) 202-7104 with conference ID 276 820 313, or through Microsoft Teams by contacting Samantha Coldiron at [email protected] at least two business days before the hearing.

Written comments can be submitted to the commission at 333 West Seventh Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 or [email protected]. The full application is available at commerce.alaska.gov/web/aogcc/ccus.aspx.

People needing accommodations should contact Coldiron at (907) 793-1223 by May 7. After the hearing, the commission will submit its application to the EPA for review.