Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) has been found in violation of federal environmental regulations due to a leak at its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Illinois.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the company breached safe drinking water rules and its underground injection permit.
The Illinois Industrial CCS Project is designed to demonstrate the safe storage of carbon dioxide beneath the Earth’s surface.
With the Biden administration’s recent expansion of tax credits for CCS projects, there has been a surge of interest in such initiatives.
An EPA inspection revealed that carbon dioxide injected into the subsurface had migrated into unauthorized areas.
Additionally, ADM failed to adhere to its emergency response plan and monitoring protocols. There were concerns that the leak could potentially contaminate both soil and groundwater in the vicinity of the storage site.
Relevant: Reverion Secures $62M In Funding For Its CO2-Negative Power Plants
In response to the EPA’s notice, ADM acknowledged corrosion in one of its monitoring wells and took steps to address the issue.
“At no time was there any impact to the surface or groundwater sources or any threat to public health,” ADM spokesperson Jackie Anderson assured.
“We continue to be confident in the safety, security and effectiveness of CCS as a greenhouse gas mitigation technology and its potential to bring new industries and economic opportunities to the entire state of Illinois.”
Relevant: Mitsubishi To Purchase Stake In Combined Ammonia/Hydrogen ExxonMobil Project
While ADM remains confident in the safety and effectiveness of CCS technology, the incident has raised concerns among local communities regarding the potential risks associated with such projects.
The Carbon Capture Coalition, a trade group for the industry, noted that the incident highlights the importance of robust monitoring systems for CO2 injections.
