Seeking to mitigate the effects of climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a new rule to regulate underground storage of carbon dioxide from coal-fired powerplants and other industrial facilities.

Published in the July 25 Federal Register, the proposal would provide national guidelines for protecting drinking-water sources when CO₂ is injected underground.

Although EPA’s proposal builds on current safety requirements for building and monitoring injection wells, some groups warn that it does not set adequate monitoring guidelines. Alan Roberson, American Water Works Association director of security and regulatory affairs, says if carbon dioxide leaks into underground well cracks, it could harm drinking-water sources.