Senate Bill 211 Summary

• Establishes regulatory framework for carbon dioxide storage and transportation in Indiana, effective July 1, 2010, with jurisdiction divided among the Department of Environmental Management, Utility Regulatory Commission, and Department of Natural Resources.

• Defines key terms including "carbon dioxide" (fluid consisting of more than 90% CO2 molecules in supercritical state), "storage facility," "transmission pipeline," "commercial operator," and "private operator" for purposes of the new carbon dioxide storage article.

• Designates commercial CO2 operators as public utilities subject to commission regulation on terms and conditions of service, but exempts both commercial and private operators from rate regulation by the commission.

• Requires storage operators to obtain permits from the Department of Natural Resources director before exploratory drilling, with approval contingent on findings that stored CO2 will remain underground safely and not endanger people, property, or natural resources.

• Prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from regulating CO2 transportation, storage, and withdrawal except as authorized under this article, and exempts CO2 from classification as a pollutant, nuisance, hazardous waste, or deleterious substance.