More CO2 leaks at ADM Co. in Decatur escape public notice

Two surface leaks and one subsurface leak of CO2 occurred at ADM Co.’s carbon sequestration facility between November 2021 and the end of 2022.  The first surface leak took place on November 28, 2021 and it was estimated that 12.6 metric tons of CO2 escaped.  The second surface leak took place on June 28, 2022, and it was estimated that 1.3 metric tons of CO2 escaped.  Also, in 2022, ADM reported an estimated 307 metric tons in subsurface leakage.  All of these incidents occurred at ADM’s second monitoring well.  They were reported to the USEPA by ADM in their annual monitoring reports dated March 25, 2022 and May 31, 2023, however, to my knowledge, these leaks were never directly reported to interested parties including city staff, elected officials or the general public at the time they occurred.

The three leaks described above took place at the same monitoring well for which the USEPA issued a proposed enforcement order on September 19, 2024 stemming from another CO2 leak in March 2024 in which over 8,000 metric tons of CO2 and formation fluid was injected in places that it was not permitted to go.  Since the proposed enforcement order, the USEPA received notification from ADM that a different monitoring well had a fluid anomaly.

What the four leaks and a fluid anomaly in less than three years illustrates is that CO2 leaks from carbon sequestration activities are common and that Lake Decatur, as the primary drinking water source for over 68,000 city residents and a crown jewel of our city for recreational activities, is an inappropriate location for sequestration activities.  Furthermore, given the multiple leaks and lack of timely disclosure to interested parties, citizens are justified in asking whether the USEPA is up to the task of enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act and will be proactive in ensuring that the city’s water supply is safe from “imminent and substantial endangerment” as defined in the Act. 

ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY SELECTED BY CITY OF DECATUR

I want to thank the large number of Decatur residents who have been expressing their concern about the most recent CO2 leak at ADM’s carbon sequestration facility.  Combined with the lack of timely reporting, residents are justified in their concerns about having CO2 sequestered in highly populated areas and under one of the city’s most critical resources. 

I commend the city of Decatur for selecting an environmental attorney for this matter.  It is the prudent approach to take to ensure the city and citizens are protected.  Fundamental questions remain unanswered months after leaks and other anomalies have been identified.  We now know that surface leaks at the carbon sequestration facility have taken place.  Could larger leaks put public safety at risk?  I have the upmost confidence in our first responders, but do they have all the apparatus and equipment needed in the event of a leak?  We now know that a subsurface leak has taken place.  What is the mitigation plan for Lake Decatur if a larger scale subsurface leak occurs?  Does the city’s water treatment plant have everything it needs to maintain safe drinking water in the event of a large-scale leak of CO2 into Lake Decatur?

LACK OF TIMELY REPORTING MAY HAVE INFLUENCED NEGOTIATIONS

At its March 20, 2023 meeting, the Decatur City Council unanimously authorized the city manager to negotiate the terms and conditions for a carbon sequestration easement that would permit ADM to sequester CO2 under Lake Decatur.  Even though the USEPA had already been informed that there had been two surface leaks and one subsurface leak since November 2021, the city council was assured that carbon sequestration was safe and that leaks were rare.  Twelve months later and before the easement agreement was finalized, ADM knew of another leak in March 2024 and ADM failed to notify the city.  ADM may not have been required by law to do so, but it certainly could be argued that they had an ethical responsibility to report leaks to interested parties during council meetings and negotiations, and they completely failed in their responsibility.  Had I known about these leaks, I would not have supported moving forward with the sequestration easement. 

Lack of disclosure to interested parties regarding the leaks could mean that substantive, relevant information was withheld during negotiations that could have influenced the terms of the easement that was ultimately signed in May 2024, and could have impacted whether the easement would have been agreed to at all.  To be clear, negotiations over the easement were taking place between the City of Decatur and ADM Co. around the time of the March 2024 leak, the city did not know about the leak, and the former city manager signed the easement on the day they retired.  In doing so, the city and residents may have to live with the threats of carbon storage permanently. 

ADM SHOULD TERMINATE THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION EASEMENT

Lake Decatur, the drinking water supply for the city’s 68,000 residents is not an appropriate location for carbon sequestration activities.  We now know that multiple CO2 leaks have occurred, that the reliability and predictability of sequestration has been overstated, and communication between ADM and the City of Decatur regarding the March 2024 leak or any of the previous leaks was inept at best.  Furthermore, the repeated CO2 leaks, inadequate communication, and poor regulatory oversight appear to be systemic problems instead of isolated incidents. 

There is simply no compelling reason to risk the city’s drinking water source and a crown jewel of our city to store CO2.  ADM should terminate the carbon sequestration easement agreement with the city and pledge not to sequester CO2 under Lake Decatur, particularly since the city already owns a site that could be more appropriate for sequestration, the Oakley Sediment Basin.  ADM treated the City of Decatur poorly, they should apologize and do the right thing. 

CITIZENS CAN TAKE ACTION TO STOP SEQUESTRATION UNDER LAKE DECATUR

The next regular meeting of the city council will take place on Monday, October 21 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place).  Citizens are allotted 3 minutes each near the beginning of the meeting to express their views.  If you would like to discuss this issue with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.  There is still time to prevent carbon sequestration from taking place under Lake Decatur.