ADM violates US water laws, permit after leak at carbon capture project By Reuters

By Valerie Volcovici and Leah Douglas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found Archer-Daniels-Midland violated federal safe drinking water rules and its underground injection permit with a leak at its first major underground carbon capture facility in Illinois, it confirmed the agribusiness company on Friday. .

The Illinois Industrial Capture and Sequestration (CCS) project is intended to demonstrate the ability of carbon dioxide to be safely stored underground.

The Biden administration’s Inflation Relief Act expanded tax credits for CCS projects from $50 per ton to $85, generating more interest in these projects.

In an Aug. 14 letter to ADM, the EPA said a site inspection in July found that carbon dioxide injected into the basement flowed into “unauthorized areas” and that the company failed to follow an emergency response plan and to remediate and/or monitor. the well in accordance with his permit.

Seepage from bedrock fractures or from injection could contaminate both soil and groundwater in the area surrounding the disposal site.

ADM responded to the EPA notice on Aug. 22 and said it detected some corrosion in one of its two deep monitoring wells and subsequently plugged it and reported it to the agency, according to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters.

“At no time was there any impact on surface or groundwater sources or any threat to public health,” ADM spokeswoman Jackie Anderson said in a statement.

“We continue to have confidence in the safety, security and effectiveness of CCS as a greenhouse gas reduction technology and its potential to bring new industries and economic opportunities throughout the state of Illinois.”

The trade group for the carbon capture industry said the incident showed the monitoring system for CO2 injections was working.

“We look forward to learning more about the best practices that ADM and EPA identify from this incident,” said Carbon Capture Coalition Executive Director Jessie Stolark.

Food & Water Watch policy director Jim Walsh said it highlighted local communities’ concerns about the safety of the practice.