Summary/Abstract
This paper focuses on one form of carbon dioxide removal, terrestrial enhanced rock weathering, which involves spreading finely ground alkaline rocks over land. Scientists posit that the alkaline materials will bond with carbon dioxide in the air, sequestering it in mineral form, potentially for tens of thousands of years. Within the U.S., Minnesota is thought to be an ideal location for enhanced rock weathering, as it has pre-existing silicate rock reserves and quarrying infrastructure, and appropriate land. However, before enhanced rock weathering can be deployed at scale, further research is required to verify its effectiveness, co-benefits, and risks.
Currently in the U.S., there are no laws that specifically address enhanced rock weathering, but the practice may be regulated under a number of general laws. This paper builds on prior research on the laws that may apply to enhanced rock weathering by analyzing the application of both federal laws and state laws to projects in Minnesota, as part of a larger Sabin Center project aimed at clarifying state level regulation of carbon dioxide removal activities.