BLM approves limited access for carbon sequestration test well in response to public input
MILES CITY, Mont. — In direct response to public feedback, the Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas has approved a limited portion of the proposed Snowy River Carbon Sequestration Project application in Carter County, Montana, authorizing only access to a two-track access route and a portion of Lone Tree Road to a single stratigraphic test well site located on State of Montana land. The BLM is not approving a right-of-way for any other surface infrastructure or pore space with this decision.
This limited approval will allow project proponent Denbury Carbon Solutions, LLC, to collect additional geologic and hydrologic data before any further development on federally managed lands is considered. The decision reflects the BLM’s commitment to a science-based approach and meaningful public engagement.
“We’ve heard the public’s concerns, and we’re acting on them,” said BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director Sonya Germann. “This decision allows for critical data gathering without advancing the full project at this time. It’s a step that ensures transparency and continued dialogue.”
Denbury’s full right-of-way application, submitted in 2021, proposes a 30-year carbon sequestration project involving up to 15 EPA Class VI injection wells (12 on BLM-managed land, 3 on State land), 500 acres of surface disturbance, roads, pipelines, pump stations, and use of 100,200 acres of federally managed pore space. The company estimates the project could inject up to 150 million tonnes of CO₂ over 20 years.
BLM will consider next steps on the broader application only after reviewing the Environmental Protection Agency’s evaluation of data collected from the test well and updated planning guidance pending the Record of Decision for the Montana Greater Sage-Grouse Plan Amendment.
More information is available on the project’s ePlanning site: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2026556/510.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.