Help pass legislation to protect the Mahomet Aquifer!
EJC is partnering with Central Illinois groups to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from potential CO2 pollution. The Mahomet Aquifer is a U.S. EPA sole-source designated aquifer that provides fresh drinking water to nearly 1 million people. This designation means there is no readily available or economically viable alternate source of water, if it becomes contaminated.
The Mahomet Aquifer is currently threatened by four carbon sequestration projects that would store more than 50 times the amount of carbon stored at Archer Daniels Midland's sequestration project in Decatur - and that facility leaked twice. The U.S. EPA determined that contamination of the Mahomet Aquifer would pose a major public health hazard to Central Illinois residents.
Please "slip" to support HB 3614 and SB 1723
Two hearings are now scheduled to protect the Mahomet Aquifer and any future sole source aquifer in Illinois from potential carbon sequestration pollution. Both take place the week of March 17 and we are asking you to you "slip" as a proponent in favor of each.
Slip in support of HB 3614 (before 3pm Tuesday March 18)
https://bit.ly/Mahomet-House-Bill
Slip in support of SB 1723 (before 10am Thursday, March 20)
https://bit.ly/Mahomet-Senate-Bill
The number of proponents and opponents are read at the beginning of a hearing, and provide Committees and understanding of public support or opposition.
Never slipped before? It's easy. See directions on how to fill out a witness slip, below.
What does this legislation do?
This legislation simply protects any Illinois U.S. EPA designated sole-source aquifer from carbon sequestration activities. At this time, Illinois has just one sole source aquifer, and that is the Mahomet Aquifer.
Both bills are identical. They ban the injection of CO2 through, or storage of CO2under a designated sole source aquifer (i.e., the Mahomet Aquifer), protecting it from contamination if the CO2 were to leak. Carbon dioxide pollution can cause cancer, liver and kidney damage, cardiovascular disease, and more.
Access to clean water is a human right, no matter where you live. Please stand up for Illinois drinking water by submitting witness slips in support of (“Proponent”) SB1723 and HB3614 today!
How to fill out a witness slip
Click here to fill out a witness slip for HB3614
Click here to fill out a witness slip for SB1723
Under Identification, fill in your contact info.
- For "Firm, Business, or Agency", you can type "self" if you are not part of an organization.
- For title, you can type "self", or "owner", "partner", etc. if you are representing your farm or business.
For Representation, you can type "self", or the name of your business or farm.
For Position, go to the drop-down menu titled "Subject Matter", and be sure to select "original bill"and click "Proponent." NOTE: the circle to check is on top of the "P" of the word Proponent, but on SOME browsers the circle appears on the top LEFT of the word Proponent. Clicking the wrong circle will indicate you oppose, rather than support the bill.
For Testimony, click "Record of Appearance Only".
Click "I Agree to the ILGA Terms of Agreement".
Click "Create Slip".
