Take Action: CO2 Pipeline Safety
3/19/24
Action Required
Protect Illinois residents! Take a minute to submit a witness slip supporting HB4835 by 4 pm on Wednesday, March 20.
CO2 pipelines have been proposed in 23 Illinois counties, and they pose a safety risk to residents. HB4835, the Safety Moratorium on Carbon Dioxide Pipelines Act, temporarily stops CO2 pipelines and allows Illinois the time it needs to develop regulations that will protect its residents.
Witness slips are a quick and easy way to help show support for the bill. Here are some tips:
In Section I, fill out your information. In the 'Firm/Business or Agency' and 'Title' boxes, enter "Self"
In Section II Representation, enter “Self” into the box
In Section III Position, mark "Proponent"
In Section IV Testimony, mark "Record of Appearance Only"
The Illinois House Energy & Environment Committee will meet Wednesday, March 20, at 4:00 pm to discuss HB4835.
Background
CO2 pipelines have been proposed in 23 Illinois counties, and more are on their way. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Materials Administration (PHMSA) has yet to complete new rules that will improve safety and oversight. In addition, no standards exist to ensure CO2 pipelines are set back far enough from homes and other occupied buildings to allow self-evacuation or rescue if a CO2 pipeline were to leak or rupture.
Why should we be concerned about CO2 pipelines?
All pipelines leak or rupture. But CO2 pipelines carry an asphyxiant. At high concentrations CO2 can cause brain damage or even death in a matter of minutes.
A rupture of a CO2 pipeline can cause deep craters at the site of the rupture and hurl broken pipe and other debris into the air. A CO2 release can last hours, and a toxic plume can travel more than a mile.
Because CO2 displaces oxygen, a rupture or leak could make self-evacuation or rescue nearly impossible. Why? Internal combustion-powered engines won't run.
The U.S. Department of Energy claims as many as 96,000 miles of CO2 pipelines could be built across the country by 2050 as part of carbon capture and sequestration projects (CCS). This includes Illinois, a target for CCS, and will place residents at risk.
There are no funding mechanisms to provide first responders the training and equipment they need to ensure a safe and successful rescue of Illinois residents in the event a CO2 pipeline leaks or ruptures.
There is limited opportunity for residents and communities to engage in the approval process of these hazardous pipelines and, if approved, eminent domain authority can be given to a private company to take their land.
What can you do? Support the Safety Moratorium on Carbon Dioxide Pipelines Act!
This bill temporarily stops CO2 pipelines and allows Illinois the time it needs to develop regulations that will protect its residents.
The moratorium will expire when one of the following happens:
PHMSA adopts new rules to improve safety and oversight of CO2 pipelines AND State agencies complete a setback study and create criteria for safe setbacks; OR
The General Assembly passes a comprehensive CCS bill that maximizes protections for Illinois residents' health, safety, land, and water. This bill would provide for safe setbacks, funding and training for first responders, and eliminate eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. This bill would also regulate carbon capture and sequestration projects in addition to CO2 pipelines; OR
Four years have passed.
League Position
The League supports the preservation of the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the ecosystem and maximum protection of public health and the environment.