Ontario Regulation 12/26, filed under the Geologic Carbon Storage Act, 2025, establishes procedures and requirements for research, evaluation, and carbon storage projects under the authority of the Minister. The regulation sets out detailed definitions, including terms such as “approved plan,” “carbon storage protection area,” and “protected groundwater,” and references the relevant Canadian Standards Association standards, CSA Z741 and CSA TS-226, to guide technical compliance. It provides a clear framework for determining what activities require a permit, outlines exemptions, and specifies circumstances under which research and evaluation activities may proceed without a permit. The regulation distinguishes between licences and permits and clarifies the types of projects covered, including research, evaluation, and carbon storage activities, and mandates that any construction or drilling of wells includes deepening or sidetracking operations.

Licence applications are tightly controlled, requiring a written invitation from the Minister to apply, and applicants must ensure submissions align with the terms and deadlines provided. Applications must include detailed information, such as the legal identity of the applicant, scope of the proposed project, technical basis for site selection, property ownership details, anticipated impacts on existing land and resource uses, required federal, provincial, or municipal approvals, and evidence of consultation with local and Indigenous communities. Site screening and selection assessments must comply with CSA Z741 standards, and all supporting documents, including maps and aerial photos of the proposed carbon storage site, must delineate boundaries, identify existing wells and infrastructure, and describe land ownership and usage. The regulation also requires applicants to document all surface and subsurface rights, including pore space, and to provide status updates on agreements with rights holders.

Permits are issued only if municipal endorsements are secured for any wells or works located within local municipalities, and the project demonstrates plans for integrity testing, maintenance, remediation of existing wells, and prevention of fluid migration between permeable zones. Permit applications must define an area of review, which must consider potential physical, chemical, or environmental effects and include the proposed carbon storage protection area, projected plume extent, and elevated pressure zones. Technical requirements for permit applications include expert-reviewed risk assessments, geological strata identification, impact assessments, seismic hazard evaluations, and compliance with CSA Z741 site characterization and risk management standards. All plans related to design, construction, operation, monitoring, emergency response, and closure must be submitted, with detailed schedules and cost estimates, and must indicate any phased security arrangements. Measurements for well locations must follow the International System of Units, use North American Datum 83 coordinates, and be precise to the nearest tenth of a metre or degree as applicable.

Ontario (12/2026) February 17, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.