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1 1 (June 3, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govefwu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: S Congressional ____ ~ Research Service Carbon Dioxide Pipelines: Safety Issues June 3, 2022 Carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines are essential components of carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems which are proposed to reduce atmospheric emissions of man-made CO2, a greenhouse gas. Pipelines are needed to transport the CO2 from where it is captured (e.g., power plants) to the underground geologic formations where it can be stored. Approximately 5,000 miles of pipeline already carry CO2 in the United States, primarily linking natural CO2 sources to aging oil fields where the CO2 is used for enhanced oil recovery. However, a much more expansive CO2 pipeline network could be needed for CCS to meet national goals for greenhouse gas reduction. One recent study suggests that such a network could total some 66,000 miles of pipeline by 2050, requiring some $170 billion in new capital investment. Because CO2 in high concentrations can be hazardous to human health, building out a national CO2 pipeline network raises safety issues which may affect nearby communities and may hinder CCS deployment. C02 Pipeline Safety CO2 occurs naturally in the atmosphere and is produced by the human body, so it is often perceived to be relatively harmless. However, as concentrations increase, CO2 displaces oxygen-which may cause a range of negative health impacts, including suffocation. Pipeline CO2 also may contain potentially hazardous contaminants, such as hydrogen sulfide. Because CO2 is colorless, odorless, and heavier than air, an uncontrolled release may spread undetected near the ground or in confined spaces. Therefore, CO2 pipelines pose a public safety risk, as demonstrated by a 2020 CO2 pipeline rupture in Satartia, MS, which led to a local evacuation and caused 45 people to be hospitalized. Transporting CO2 in pipelines is similar to transporting fuels such as natural gas and oil; it requires attention to pipeline design, protection against corrosion, monitoring for leaks, and safeguards against overpressure, especially in populated areas. The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within the Department of Transportation (DOT) has statutory authority over CO2 pipeline safety. PHMSA promulgates and enforces regulations (49 C.F.R. § 190, 195-199) for the construction, operation and maintenance, and spill response planning for CO2 pipelines. Although CO2 is listed as a Class 2.2 (non-flammable gas) hazardous material under DOT regulations, PHMSA currently applies safety requirements to CO2 pipelines similar to those for pipelines carrying hazardous liquids such as crude oil and anhydrous ammonia. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11944 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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