* Tribune…
[A]s the Midwest considers the health and safety issues raised by proposals to build massive new carbon dioxide pipeline projects, including Omaha-based Navigator CO2′s 1,350-mile network spanning Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.
The projects aim to prevent planet-warming CO2 from entering the atmosphere by capturing it during industrial processes, compressing it into a fluid, transporting it in steel pipelines and injecting it deep underground into naturally occurring rock formations where it will be trapped — ideally for thousands of years.
Navigator says this can be done safely and points to thousands of miles of CO2 pipeline already in use in the United States, mostly by the oil industry, which uses carbon dioxide to boost production.
But opponents, including environmentalists and landowners, say a new generation of massive, climate-oriented CO2 pipeline projects such as Navigator’s should be put on hold until government officials can address “alarming” gaps in health and safety regulations.
Among the gaps:
- There is no state or federal limit on how close pipelines carrying a potentially suffocating gas can be placed to a home, school or hospital.
- There is no requirement that an odorant be added to the CO2 to alert the public to a leak, as is done with natural gas.
- There is no limit on the impurities that are allowed in the carbon dioxide, despite the potential for pipeline corrosion and health hazards in the event of a leak.
- There is no requirement that pipeline companies use a specific method to map potential accident hazard zones, although one standard approach — which failed in Mississippi — doesn’t take complex topography into account.
* A Carbon leak in Mississippi prompted federal focus on pipeline safety the AP reported in April…
Transportation regulators entered into a federal order with a carbon dioxide pipeline company three years after its pipeline ruptured in a lower Mississippi Delta town, prompting the evacuation of hundreds and sending dozens of people to the hospital.
Over 40 people received hospital treatment, and more than 300 were evacuated on Feb. 22, 2020, after Denbury Gulf Coast Pipelines’ 24-inch (61-centimeter) Delta Pipeline ruptured in Satartia, Mississippi. It released over 31,000 barrels of CO2. Residents who were sent to the hospital had symptoms of C02 poisoning and oxygen deprivation, according to a news release published by Pipeline Safety Trust, an advocacy group.
The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced Thursday that it had entered into the order with Denbury, a Texas-based company.
The order will require the company to meet compliance requirements, such as communicating with all first responders who would be responsible for responding to a pipeline incident. Denbury has already paid a $2.8 million penalty, the release said.
“We hope that the consequences Denbury faces as a result of its failure to protect the public prevents devastating incidents like this one from occurring in the future,” said Kenneth Clarkson, communications director for Pipeline Safety Trust.
* Another story from the Tribune…
One day last fall, Sabrina and Ralph Jones spotted four wooden surveyor stakes in the farm field across the street, each one marked with a strip of orange plastic.
That, the Joneses say, was their only warning that Navigator CO2 — an Omaha-based company that wants to store millions of tons of carbon dioxide underground in central Illinois — was planning to drill a testing well just 500 feet from their front door.
There was no letter from Navigator, according to the Jones, who live on a quiet country road in Nokomis, 200 miles southwest of Chicago. There was no phone call or visit. But for more than two months, starting in early May, the drilling operation filled their leafy front yard with a dull industrial hum, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. […]
At a time when Navigator needs to cultivate the support of landowners and public bodies, some observers say the company doesn’t appear to be doing itself any favors. Running a 24-hour industrial operation near a residence is legal in Montgomery County, where Nokomis is located, because there are no zoning laws or noise ordinances, according to county board Chair Doug Donaldson. But opponents say it’s not the best way to win over your neighbors.
* State Journal-Register…
As a public meeting Monday evening revealed, finding common ground on a multi-state carbon dioxide pipeline running through Sangamon County remains a problem both figuratively and literally.
Coming to Springfield from Nebraska, Navigator Heartland Greenway LLC attempted to sell a standing room audience on its proposed pipeline running through 292 miles in the state. That task has proven difficult in preceding months and the meeting held by the county Zoning and Land Use Committee continued that trend.
Approximately 39 miles of pipeline collecting emissions from ethanol plants and storing them underground would run through the county, hitting portions of nine townships. Opponents are concerned a potential pipeline burst with this proximity to towns such as New Berlin and Glenarm could lead to a public health crisis exceeding what was seen earlier this year during the I-55 dust storm.
This fear, along with belief that existing state and federal regulations are inadequate, has caused several counties to issue moratoriums against CO2 pipeline construction. As of June, Navigator has also only received 13.4% of the right-of-way easement agreements statewide and 5.2% in the county according to its own data. […]
Most of Navigator’s presentation focused on its safety efforts for the pipeline, where in addition to 24/7 monitoring and a lockdown system that would prevent a burst from spreading further up or down the line, there will be bi-weekly air monitoring by plane or drone to check in for any weather disruptions.
* Journal Courier…
Sen. Steve McClure. R-Springfield, wants to suspend issuance of any new certificates of authority for building carbon dioxide pipelines as well as pause applications for the certificates for two years or until the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration revises federal safety standards for transporting carbon dioxide.
The two-year time limit on the bill is intended to give either the federal administration or the state enough time to enact their own regulations, McClure said. […]
Other state lawmakers from both political parties have expressed concern about carbon capture pipelines, McClure said, whose legislation is being co-sponsored by Sens. Sally J. Turner, R-Lincoln, and Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet.
“Something this massive … we’ve got to make sure it’s safe,” he said. “That’s a key concern for people across this state that are affected, whether they’re Democrats or Republicans.”
The bill failed to make it out of Senate Assignments during session.
- DuPage - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 11:39 am:
There are not only safety concerns, but also financial questions of long-term responsibility. Who will be responsible to deal with problems later on? Who will pay for the costs if the dump starts leaking years later? Illinois should not assume responsibility for this.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26042022/carbon-capture-storage-safety-liability/?utm_source=InsideClimate+News&utm_campaign=092c0ab704-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-092c0ab704-329529685
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 11:39 am:
Montgomery County has no zoning laws or noise ordinances? I did not know this could be possible. Do you can build anything anywhere? I guess that is a small government persons dream
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 11:49 am:
good lord those poor people. how can there be no notice to adjacent neighbors? ah, Counties, leave them alone. example one. change.
- BluegrassBoy - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:00 pm:
NIMBY.This just helps keep ethanol plants producing longer that they should. Just google simulated CO2 pipleine rupture. Its terrifying. I went to the public meeting and hope Sangamon Co rejects it. 50 million isnt worth the chance of a catestophic disaster. This industry needs significant regualtion if we want to build CO2 pipelines in the US.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:14 pm:
This is the same type of discussion which will/should eventually start happening with the gassification plant that state passed a law to be build in Will/Grundy county.
Recent studies have shown that these facilities massively increase the amount of microplastics in the local environment, because they water they use in the plants goes back into the treatment process where these microplastics are not able to be removed.
- H-W - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:14 pm:
I just do not see how you can pump a liquid gas into the ground, in the moving tectonic plates, and not assume that at some point, the gas will be released.
- Anotheretiree - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:17 pm:
Cant find the exact route but I think its within 2-3 miles so not a big fan. Amazed that Sangamon County GOP’ers now seem to want regulation ? I thought the miracle of the marketplace solved all problems ?
- The Truth - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:24 pm:
Montgomery County has no zoning laws or noise ordinances? I did not know this could be possible. Do you can build anything anywhere? I guess that is a small government persons dream
I’m guessing they could use a little bit of Big Gubmint right about now
- OneMan - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:34 pm:
== I just do not see how you can pump a liquid gas into the ground, in the moving tectonic plates, and not assume that at some point, the gas will be release ==
https://www.nicorgas.com/company/where-we-are/our-service-area/underground-storage.html
https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.1144/SP528-2022-85
- Normally just a reader - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:39 pm:
I am normally just a reader, not a commenter, but I needed to comment today. In response to the no zoning laws or noise ordinances; Edwards County also has neither. We do have building permits, but they are just a piece of paper with no fees. There are a handful or ordinances on the books including one for solar farms and one for wind farms; but in general, if you own the land, you can do what you want when you want and lease to whomever you want for whatever purpose.
- NoMoreMC - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 12:56 pm:
Like OneMan linked to, we have about a trillion cubic feet of natural gas stored underground which is brought in on pipelines. I believe we are still second only to Michigan on total capacity. We’ve been doing it since the 50s-60s. However, it isn’t all roses. There have been leaks, and those wells aren’t even at the century mark. Keeping a gas/liquid underground for thousands of years when man-made wels and piping are involved seems like a big ask. Illinois has been at the forefront of underground storage for a long time and the Geological Survey has great expertise on the burgeoning field of CO2 storage, but the idea still scares me. Especially without more federal oversight. Google the Aliso Canyon gas leak. Now substitute CO2 for natural gas. Doesn’t sound like a great idea. With natural gas, the utilities have a vested interest in keeping the gas in the ground so they can sell it later. With carbon sequestration there is no interest. This is pure disposal. If the reservoir is full and the company is on their 3rd LLC, what do they care if you have a few leaks? They already made their money. For this to work, you need longterm bonding and other protections. Just don’t see that happening anytime soon.
- TNR - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 1:21 pm:
Lots of legitimate concerns here, but pipelines are by far the safest way to transport hazardous materials, as opposed to rail, road and barge. And even if we completely convert energy production to renewable sources, there are still plenty of industrial carbon emitters to be dealt with. Finding a way to capture and sequester carbon is well worth exploring. ADM has been doing it successfully and safely in Decatur for years.
- Anon221 - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
At least as it concerns the Navigator project- In presentations they have given, it appears that they are more interested in establishing “terminals” with other businesses along the way that would use the CO2 for other purposes, and then just use McLean, DeWitt (planned for “Phase 2″), Montgomery, and Christian for the final dumping ground of anything they can’t sell off the pipeline(s)- including laterals they say are planned for “Phase 2″. For additional information that may or may not be presented to the ICC (because, according to Navigator, these are “separate” permitting tracks), you can go to this link and see all the areas that Class VI wells are currently being applied for. Interestingly, Montgomery County is not included. And, I haven’t found any well permits from IDNR for this type of drilling going back on the permit logs to the week of 2-07-2022. Still looking, but if USEPA didn’t approve it, and IDNR didn’t permit it, who DOES ensure that a well such as this one in Montgomery County is safely done? And, BTW, the IEPA application for an NPDES permit for the drilling site is listed as “Kim Brown Well Site”. That’s the name of the landowner, not Navigator. Just another way to avoid transparency of any kind to the public. https://www.epa.gov/uic/class-vi-permit-applications-region-5
- froganon - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 2:19 pm:
Until pipelines are built and maintained over time with stringent federal, state and local regulation as well as serious liability for operators, forget new ones. Fix existing lines, beef up new construction and operation. Until then, plant every inch of ag. land in the midwest, the country and the world with cover crops. Plant trees and/or prairie on every inch of bare land along roads and near buildings. Those plants will immediately pull carbon out of the air and store it in their root systems. Put solar panels on every available roof and over every parking lot. We have the tools to sequester carbon (plants) and the tools to stop releasing it into the air. The heat is on…literally. It’s our choice to save ourselves or keep burning fossil fuels.
- Nobody Sent - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 2:35 pm:
In response to One Man: https://www.wcia.com/news/clear-and-present-danger-the-leak/
- Galena Guy - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 3:08 pm:
I tend to side with Bluegrass Boy on the subject. Living 10 minutes from Dubuque, I get awfully sick and tired of that that senile windbag Chuck Grassley rave about the benefits of ethanol when it really is an environmental nightmare. The thing that gets me most about this whole pipeline debacle is the apparent hypocrisy of corn farmers not wanting CO2 pipelines traversing their property. They KNEW the corn was going to be used for ethanol production but don’t want to deal with or be burdened with the byproduct of their wares. Isn’t this kinda why the EPA was created - to keep producers from ignoring the hazardous byproduct of their product?
- Anon221 - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 3:39 pm:
Amalia- This might apply in this situation, and it is state law, so counties can’t be stricter than that setback. And, it’s not enough. The exploratory oil drilling that took place across from my property ran for 10 days, 24/7, and was about 900 feet from my home. I can’t imagine having to live with that noise, vibration, and (possibly) diesel fumes for as long as the Jones’ have been. Ten nights of severe sleep deprivation was 10 nights too many. Months on end would drive my crazy. As far as I know, as long as the drilling is outside the setback, absolutely no notice needs to be made to any surrounding landowners or homeowners. I will stand corrected if anyone knows otherwise.
“f) All new well locations shall not be less than 200 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling existing at the time the permit application is filed with the Department, unless the permittee obtains a written agreement with the surface owner upon which the dwelling is located specifically allowing for a closer well location.
(Source: Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 13907, effective October 25, 2021)”
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/062/062002400D04100R.html
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Jul 24, 23 @ 4:55 pm:
The company claims it’s safe, where on Earth have I heard that before?
You can bury it…but you can’t hide it…from Mother Nature.