Region 5 of the U.S. EPA allocates just 90 minutes
to learn how to comment on 90 MMT CO2 stored underground
Attend one of our briefings!
Demand EPA extend its comment period!
The U.S. EPA is one step away from approving the injection of 90 million metric tons of CO₂ into the recharge area of the Mahomet Aquifer where it will be stored underground. The Mahomet Aquifer is a federally designated sole-source aquifer that provides drinking water to nearly 1 million people.
How much CO2 is that? It's the equivalent of more than 44,000 Empire State buildings! You have until September 23 (11:59 pm) to get your concerns on the record.
Where things stand
On August 1, SB 1723 (Sen. Paul Faraci) became law (Public Act 104-0119). Despite our best efforts, it left the Mahomet's recharge area unprotected — even though U.S. EPA included that area in its 2015 Sole Source Aquifer designation.
Ten days ago, EPA Region 5 released three draft Class VI permits, one for each sequestration well, clearing the way for the third-largest carbon storage project in the state.
Eco-Justice Collaborative has been reviewing the application and the draft permits with Dr. Lindsey Gulden, member of the Science Roundtable on CCS. We've identified five pathways that could contaminate Gibson City's drinking water, the Mahomet Aquifer, or both. Could — not will. But neither One Earth, the project developer, nor U.S. EPA has evaluated a single one of them.
A hearing designed to be hard to prepare for
Countryside Event Center
403 E 200N Rd., Gibson City, IL 60936
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Availability session: 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Public hearing: 7:30–9:30 p.m.
There will be no presentation of the project. And with written comments due the very next day, there's no time to absorb what EPA says at the availability session, turn it into formal comments, and file them.
What you can do
1. Sign this petition asking EPA to extend the comment period.
2. Join one or both briefings — what's at risk, what's wrong with the draft permits, and how to file comments. Both sessions cover drafting and submitting.
Thursday, September 10, 5:30–7:00 pm
How this project could reach the Mahomet Aquifer and Gibson City's water–Led by EJC
Join here · Meeting ID: 859 7031 5228 · Passcode: 596805
Monday, September 14, 5:30–7:00pm
Featuring Dr. Lindsey Gulden on aquifer contamination risk and the key flaws in the draft permits.
Join here · Meeting ID: 883 0096 3735 · Passcode: 902886
3. Attend the hearing on September 22 and make a comment!
Why your comment matters
If it isn't in the record by September 23, we can't use it later — not in an appeal, not anywhere. We'll have draft comments you can adapt, and we’ll also help you write your own.
We've done this before.
This project is one of eight under review by Region 5 of the U.S. EPA. EJC appealed Region 5's final permit for the Marquis Energy sequestration well — the appeal and a summary slide deck are on our website. One more step, and then the Environmental Appeals Board takes this up.
We're encouraging residents all across the state to show up and support their neighbors' drinking water. Just 12 projects have been developed globally to permanently store carbon dioxide in a saline aquifer, and one of them — Archer Daniels Midland in Decatur leaked twice!
Please join us in:
- Asking Region 5 to extend its comment period deadline by at least five days.
- Commenting on this permit, which has five potential pathways for contaminating the Mahomet Aquifer and Gibson City's water supply with CO2 and brine. Permit documents can be found here.
