Threats to wildlife & wetlands​

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• Proven, documented harms:

  • Acute human health impacts from pipeline ruptures/releases (Satartia): loss of consciousness, hospitalizations, mass evacuation. PHMSA

  • Regulatory violations at an active Class VI site (ADM Decatur): EPA found migration into unauthorized zones and monitoring/response failures, prompting a multi-month injection pause and federal orders. Environmental Protection Agency+2Reuters+2

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• Scientifically demonstrated risks:

  • Groundwater chemistry degradation if CO₂/brine reach USDWs (pH drop; metal mobilization) — repeatedly shown in peer-reviewed work and embedded in EPA’s Class VI protective scheme. ACS Publications+1

  • Injection-induced microseismicity and potential fault-reactivation pathways (Decatur studies), emphasizing conservative site selection and pressure management near aquifers. ScienceDirect+1

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• What remains contested:

  • Full-scale, long-duration CCS near sole-source aquifers (e.g., Mahomet Aquifer concerns around Decatur) remains controversial. EPA says no demonstrated impact to drinking water to date, but ongoing enforcement and remedial actions show non-zero failure potential that warrants a precautionary approach in aquifer-dependent regions like Chicot. Reuters+1

 

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