EPA Crackdown in the Permian Basin

They’ll shut you down—without warning.

The 2025 EPA crackdown isn’t coming.

It’s here.

And Permian Basin operators are already feeling it.

Too many teams still think permitting delays are “a federal problem” or “someone else’s department.” But with EPA now asserting oversight of Class VI wells and the Texas RRC tightening SWD pressure and seismic rules, the clock has run out.

If you're operating or planning to inject—your timeline just got shorter.

Here’s how to protect yourself before the next application lands on the “denied” pile:

Map your sites

Know every injection point on your acreage.

List old wells

Plugging liabilities are now central to permits.

Review pressures

Exceeding new caps triggers automatic review.

Extend your AOR

RRC says half-mile is now the floor.

File risk reports

Don’t wait for seismic events to hit the news.

Rewrite your permits

SWD and CO₂ language must be updated now.

Plan dual compliance

EPA and RRC will both want answers.

Budget for remediation

“Fix it later” won’t cut it anymore.

Get legal eyes

You need litigation-ready language on file.

Train your teams

If your landman can’t spot a trigger, you're exposed.

This is not the time to “wait and see.”

This is the time to act.