Huffman, Casten Urge EPA to Halt Operations and Approvals for CCS to Address Systemic Issues

Huffman, Casten Urge EPA to Halt Operations and Approvals for CCS to Address Systemic Issues

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Sean Casten (IL-06) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging EPA to stop approvals and operations for carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities until ongoing systemic problems have been addressed.

Recent events regarding CCS, including substantial well failures at the Archer Daniels Midland injection well facility in Decatur, Illinois, and a pattern of well failures and non-compliance at injection wells in Texas, demonstrate regulatory gaps that threaten underground sources of drinking water and warrant immediate EPA action. The events bring to light systemic problems with CCS technology and its regulation.

"On August 13, 2025, EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent to Archer Daniels Midland for these violations, confirming that injected CO2 and brine migrated into an unauthorized underground formation," the lawmakers wrote. "While the order acknowledges breaches of core safeguards, it imposes no penalties, does not suspend ADM's permit, and leaves in place the weak rules that allowed this incident to occur. This underscores the urgent need for EPA to strengthen its Class VI oversight, update regulations, and halt additional injections until it can ensure such leaks will not endanger drinking water."

The lawmakers expressed further concern about EPA's oversight of CCS injection wells and urged EPA to stop approvals and operations until it is clear that the systemic problems have been addressed.

"We stand ready to work with EPA to safeguard our drinking water and public health," the lawmakers continued. "The ADM order makes clear that current safeguards are insufficient to prevent dangerous CO2 migration, even under direct EPA oversight. Without stronger rules, robust enforcement, and adequate staffing, approving or operating additional Class II and Class VI wells risks repeating these failures and putting drinking water supplies at grave risk."

A copy of the letter can be found here.

• Print
• Email
• Tweet