Okla. Stat. tit. 27A, § 27A-3-4-105: Terrestrial and agricultural carbon sequestration

certification program — Application information.

A. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is hereby authorized to

establish and administer the terrestrial and agricultural carbon

sequestration certification program. The purposes of the program

are to provide a mechanism for creating and preserving carbon

reserves in this state by encouraging voluntary practices that

protect or improve natural resources, to enable Oklahomans to

participate in market-based programs for natural resource

protection, to provide a mechanism for Oklahomans to benefit from

the ecosystem services they provide, to verify carbon sequestration

or storage associated with terrestrial and agricultural carbon

sequestration practices, and to issue carbon sequestration

certificates associated with terrestrial and agricultural carbon

sequestration practices that the Commission determines qualify for

such certificates.

B. The Commission, in consultation with the Department of

Environmental Quality and with the advice of the terrestrial and

agricultural carbon sequestration stakeholder groups appointed by

the Commission, shall develop and promulgate rules as necessary to

administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of Section 3-4-101

et seq. of this title, including, but not limited to, developing and

implementing uniform standards and criteria for verifying carbon

sequestration and storage associated with terrestrial and

agricultural carbon sequestration practices and issuing carbon

sequestration certificates associated with approved terrestrial and

agricultural carbon sequestration practices. In promulgating the

rules, the Commission shall develop the program to be as consistent

as possible with other governmental programs designed to create

carbon reserves for the purpose of voluntarily reducing greenhouse

gases or designed to certify terrestrial and agricultural carbon

sequestration practices.

C. In order for terrestrial and agricultural carbon

sequestration to be verified and certified under this section, an

applicant shall file an application with the Commission. Along with

the application, the applicant shall submit a resource management

plan, or a project plan as applicable, detailing activities that

will increase or maintain existing trapped carbon including, but not

limited to, improved forest management, alteration of or changes in

silviculture practices, and growing of designated crops and any

other such terrestrial and agricultural carbon sequestration

practices.

D. The Commission shall require applicants to submit such

information, forms, and reports as are necessary to properly and

efficiently administer the program.

E. Prior to granting a carbon sequestration certificate, the

Commission shall adopt criteria associated with the approved

terrestrial and agricultural carbon sequestration practice for which

an application is submitted. In addition, the Commission shall

determine, based upon compliance with the site criteria, the volume

or numerical amount of credits or offsets achievable by the specific

terrestrial and agricultural carbon sequestration practice.

F. Applications for a terrestrial and agricultural carbon

sequestration certificate shall be approved or denied in accordance

with criteria promulgated by the Commission.

G. The Commission is authorized to establish fees associated

with the terrestrial and agricultural carbon sequestration

certification program.