Integration of interests to develop pore space

Sec. 4. (a) If at least two (2) pore space owners own pore space located within a proposed carbon dioxide storage area of a storage facility, the owners may agree to integrate their interests to develop the pore space as a proposed storage facility for the underground storage of carbon dioxide.

(b) If all of the owners of the pore space under subsection (a) do not agree to integrate their interests, the department may issue an order requiring the owners to integrate their interests and to develop the pore space as a proposed storage facility for the underground storage of carbon dioxide to serve the public interest, prevent waste, protect correlative rights, and facilitate the efficient and effective use of natural resources subject to the findings under subsection (c).

(c) Before issuing an order under subsection (b), the department must make the following findings:

(1) That a storage operator:

(A) filed a complete application for a UIC Class VI permit or a complete application for an amended UIC Class VI permit; and

(B) submitted all the necessary information to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the agency to process the storage operator's permit application.

(2) That the storage operator has made a good faith effort to obtain the consent of all pore space owners located within the proposed storage facility.

(3) That the storage operator has obtained the consent of the owners of the pore space underlying at least seventy percent (70%) of the surface area above the proposed storage facility or amended proposed storage facility.

(4) That all pore space owners who do not agree to integrate their interests to develop the pore space as a proposed storage facility for the underground storage of carbon dioxide are equitably compensated.

(d) A right to pore space granted by this section does not confer a right to enter upon, or otherwise use, the surface of the land which is integrated under this section unless provided in an order requiring the owners to integrate their interests and to develop the pore space as a proposed storage facility for the underground storage of carbon dioxide.

(e) An involuntary integration order issued by the department takes effect fifteen (15) days after the applicant is issued a UIC Class VI permit or an amended UIC Class VI permit, as applicable.

(f) Except by agreement of the parties, an involuntary integration order issued by the department may not be construed to result in a transfer of all or any part of the title of any property included in the involuntary integration order. All property included in the involuntary integration order is the property of the owner, not the person requesting the involuntary integration order.

As added by P.L.163-2022, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.25-2025, SEC.5; P.L.213-2025, SEC.135; P.L.161-2026, SEC.52.