Washington Department Of Natural Resources

Climate Investigations Center filed this request with the Department of Natural Resources of Washington.

It is a clone of this request.

Tracking #

PDR-5433

Status
Completed

Communications

From: Climate Investigations Center

To whom it may concern,

This request focuses on the planning and safety of a nationwide high pressure carbon dioxide pipeline network spanning nearly every state.

We ask this question in light of the recently published HuffPost article “The Gassing Of Satartia” by Dan Zegart, which details an accident in Mississippi where a large CO2 pipeline ruptured in February 2020, flooding a small town with a dense cloud of CO2 and injuring dozens of people, some of whom were found unconscious, trapped in their cars while trying to escape. Most residents were unaware of the danger prior to the incident or how to respond.

The development of carbon capture and storage has been prioritized at the Federal level since the late 2000s. Funding for CO2 pipelines by 2021 is part of multiple bills before Congress.

Maps found within reports published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Carbon Capture Program, Princeton University and non-profit organizations like the Great Plains Institute, show a vast nationwide network of planned CO2 pipelines. Theoretically, the pipeline network would transport captured CO2 from existing pollution sources like power plants, oil and gas production and cement manufacturing, to sites in other states that have been identified for deep injection into geologic formations.

According to maps attached below the request, Washington is identified as having existing CO2 pollution sources and/or planned CO2 pipelines and disposal sites. These modeling exercises and maps have been developed for use in national CCS programs, budgeting and planning.

Maps attached are copied from these specific documents:
Carbon Capture Coalition (Great Plains Institute), “Federal Policy Blueprint” February 2021, pg.16
Princeton University, “Net Zero America”, December 2020, page 243

Our FOIA/Public Records request in more detail:

I request copies of all communications, reports, notes, and discussions pertaining to the safety of carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines that have been built or will be built within Washington as part of a national carbon capture and storage (CCS) plan being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and it’s Carbon Capture Program.

Specifically, I request all communications regarding CO2 pipelines, CO2 transport, and CO2 disposal within the state of Washington between the Washington Department Of Natural Resources and other state or local agencies, as well as, but not limited to, any of the following Federal agencies or task forces:

Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage
Department of Energy
Office of Fossil Energy
Carbon Storage Program
Department of Interior
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM),
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS,
Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Environmental Protection Agency
Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC)

I also request copies of any notes, communications, discussions including but not limited to the following topic areas:

CO2 Pipeline Routing and Risks
Any specific CO2 pipeline routes discussed within Washington
Consideration of potential risks to communities or environmental justice concerns during route planning process
Pipeline construction specifications - diameter, pressure, capacity of pipelines to be built
Risk of leaks from CO2 pipelines
Experiments or modeling of CO2 pipeline accidents
Potential risk contamination of CO2 waste stream, including hydrogen sulfide and water.
Safety protocols
Setbacks from populated areas - distance
Warning systems for nearby communities
Specialized CO2 training for first responders
Availability of self-contained breathing apparatus for first responders
Information and/or training for health care staff in treatment of hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning)

The time frame for this request is 2003 to the present.

Climate Investigations Center (CIC) requests these records so that communities may have adequate information in order to protect themselves from the hazards posed by CO2 pipelines. The state’s Public Records/Open Records/FOIA law is designed to ensure transparency and for that reason, agencies are to liberally interpret the law in favor of disclosure and to process records in a timely manner.

Disclosure of these records, especially for proposed pipelines, cannot reasonably present a danger to public safety and instead would provide a powerful tool for community input prior to construction. Additionally, to the extent your search results contain information that is legally exempt from disclosure, non-exempt material must be separated from those records to the extent feasible and provided in response to this request.

Because CIC requests this information for the public benefit and has no commercial interest in the material, I also request a waiver of fees. Should you decide to charge fees for providing copies of records in response to my request, please notify me. If practicable, provide copies of records in their native format. I request that you provide records in electronic form using the email address listed below. Please reach out to me with any questions or issues regarding this request.

Thank you for your assistance.

Daniel Zegart
Senior Investigator
Climate Investigations Center
info@climateinvestigations.org

&

Kert Davies
Director
Climate Investigations Center
info@climateinvestigations.org

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received your public disclosure request on October 27, 2021. All identifiable records responsive to your request will be provided to you pursuant to Chapter 42.56 RCW. You requested the following:

1. All communications, reports, notes, and discussions pertaining to the safety of carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines that have been built or will be built within Washington as part of a national carbon capture and storage (CCS) plan being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and it’s Carbon Capture Program.
2. All communications regarding CO2 pipelines, CO2 transport, and CO2 disposal within the state of Washington between DNR and other state or local agencies, as well as, but not limited to, any of the following Federal agencies or task forces in the list below.
3. Any notes, communications, discussions including but not limited to the following topic areas in the list below.

Please be advised that, pursuant to RCW 42.56.120, DNR uses the default fee schedule. If DNR uses an outside vendor for the duplication service, the charge to you will be the cost charged by the vendor, plus the cost of shipping.

We are in the process of researching your request. We estimate the records will be available on or about December 3, 2021. If responsive records become available sooner, we will certainly forward them to you.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

This email is to provide you the 1st installment to your public records request to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on October 27, 2021.

Please be advised that, pursuant to RCW 42.56.120, DNR uses the default fee schedule. The responsive records consists of 395 pages and a little over 311 megabytes.

Below are your options in which you may obtain the responsive records:

* Electronic records put on the BOX site. The cost of the responsive records is $4.94;
* Paper copies. Our copy fee is .15 cents per page plus postage

Payment should be made out to the Department of Natural Resources and sent to:

Department of Natural Resources
Attention: PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
P.O. BOX 47014
Olympia, WA 98504-7014

Please inform me by December 6, 2021, which option you prefer.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

As of today, December 7, 2021, we have not received a response from you. We will consider this request closed if we do not hear from you by December 9, 2021.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

As of today, December 10, 2021, we have not received a response from you. We have now closed out your request.

You will need to submit a new request for the records you are seeking.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

From: Climate Investigations Center

Hello,

Sorry for the late response. I would like to receive the documents you mentioned above. Should I submit and entire new request, or can this reply be considered the request? Do I have to mail a check to you or is there a way to pay electronically?

Thank you

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

Thank you for your email. We have decided to re-open your request, since we closed it earlier this month and you are still requesting the same information.

Please provide payment of $4.94 for your 1st installment of records. We only accept check or cash payment. Once we receive payment, we will send you the records.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

From: Climate Investigations Center


To Whom It May Concern:

Please find enclosed a check for $4.94 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.

Thank you.

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

As of today, January 7, 2022, we have not received payment from you. If you have already submitted your payment, please let us know when, where and check number.

We will consider this request closed if we do not receive payment by January 11, 2022.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

As of today, January 12, 2022, we have not received payment from you. We have now closed out your request.

You will need to submit a new request for the records you are seeking.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

Check sent by Muckrock Staff

Pay to the order of:

Department of Natural Resources
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
PO Box 47014
Olympia, WA 98504

#10281
Amount of: $4.94
  • Created — 01/13/2022
  • In Transit — 01/18/2022
  • In Local Area — 01/23/2022
  • Processed For Delivery
  • Deposited — 01/26/2022

From: Climate Investigations Center

Hello,

I think I may have mailed the check to the wrong address, since I sent it last week and you have not received it. What address should I re-send it to?

Thank you

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

Thank you for informing us that you mailed the check last week. Could you provide us with the check number? I can double check with our Finance Division to see if they have received it. Payment should be made out to the Department of Natural Resources and sent to:

Department of Natural Resources
Attention: PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
P.O. BOX 47014
Olympia, WA 98504-7014

Once we receive payment, we will send you the records.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7C65fa24da62f44f787a5a08d9878c0541%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637689857731660639%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mkYroaY4xZJO8pXflBAU9pnLQmiK5aUacgCWgWoiGWA%3D&reserved=0>

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

Thank you for your payment of $4.94 to DNR for your public records request. We have placed the responsive records to your request on our BOX site. You can access the records at the below link:

https://deptofnaturalresources.box.com/s/kd95m16wb6no51ytnibxrp0f3fqx1qt6

Please note: DNR’s BOX site is not intended as a permanent file storage system. You will need to save the documents to your own storage (desktop, CD, thumb drive, etc.) within 10 business days. The BOX site is routinely cleaned to allow space for new documents. Please let us know when you have removed the documents.

We are still in the process of reviewing records to determine if any exemptions apply that require redactions prior to disclosure. We will continue to provide documents in batches and anticipate sending you another installment on or about February 16, 2022. If the records become available sooner, we will let you know.

Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7Cddafddfc1324498c7c2e08d9d7c1d867%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637778049990940563%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=CMMTwm7XeiI5DN165IGNT7OBMGdAbKTYgS1sjmktN4I%3D&reserved=0>

From: Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Zegart and Mr. Davies:

This email is in response to your public disclosure request dated October 27, 2021.

DNR has made a diligent and good faith effort to locate records that are responsive to this request. We have placed the rest responsive records to your request on our BOX site. Some of the documentation has been redacted and an exemption list is included. You can access the records at the below link:

https://deptofnaturalresources.box.com/s/6wxz71yd4yz02w7ix8v96qkveirwuqbt

Please note: DNR’s BOX site is not intended as a permanent file storage system. You will need to save the documents to your own storage (desktop, CD, thumb drive, etc.) within 10 business days. The BOX site is routinely cleaned to allow space for new documents. Please let us know when you have removed the documents.

Thank you for allowing us to help you with your request. Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

Julia Jackson
Public Disclosure Coordinator
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov<mailto:Julia.Jackson@dnr.wa.gov>
www.dnr.wa.gov/publicdisclosure<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnr.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fsubmit-public-disclosure-request&data=04%7C01%7Cpublicdisclosure%40dnr.wa.gov%7Cddafddfc1324498c7c2e08d9d7c1d867%7C11d0e217264e400a8ba057dcc127d72d%7C0%7C0%7C637778049990940563%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=CMMTwm7XeiI5DN165IGNT7OBMGdAbKTYgS1sjmktN4I%3D&reserved=0>

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