We have a hearing on SB3698 to Protect the Mahomet Aquifer!
On Wednesday, November 13, at 1pm, the Executive Committee of the Illinois General Assembly will host a hearing on the Senate version of the Sole Source Sequestration Aquifer Ban (SB3698) that will protect the Mahomet Aquifer and any future sole source aquifers from CO2 pollution. And we need your help!
Please fill out a witness slip in support here!
https://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/155251?committeeHearingId=21341&LegislationId=155251&LegislationDocumentId=195002
See directions on how to fill out a witness slip, below.
Send a letter:
If you haven't yet done so, please send this letter that asks your state senator and representative to cosponsor SB3968 and HB 5874. If you already have sent it, thank you! If not, please review, click and send. In either case, could you find two people to send it? We want to flood our legislators' inboxes with letters asking them to support the aquifer. The letter can be edited to make it more personal or representative of your concerns.
Make some calls:
Executive Committee
While we think the senate is strongly supporting the bill, we can’t take anything for granted. If you are in any of these legislator's districts – or, if you have worked with or know any of them, please make a call and ask them to move the bill out of their committee. Click here to see who serves on the Executive Committee.
Your State Senator
You can find contact information here.
More on the legislation to protect Sole Source Aquifers
So what does this legislation do? It simply protects any Illinois, U.S. EPA designated sole-source aquifer and its recharge areas from carbon sequestration activities. It bans the injection of CO2 through, or storage of CO2 under a designated sole source aquifer, protecting it from potential contamination by CO2. CO2 pollution can cause cancer, liver damage, and anemia.
At this time, Illinois' only sole source aquifer is the Mahomet Aquifer, and there are three CCS projects proposed that could affect it. Two are former Navigator projects and do not have CO2 pipelines or sources of CO2 proposed to be stored.
The recent ADM leaks demonstration that this technology is risky. A sole-source aquifer designation means there is no readily available or economically viable alternate source of water, if it becomes contaminated. You can read more about the bill here.
Please share this email with others, so they have the opportunity to act, too. Thanks for your help to move this bill across the finish line!
Pam Richart
Co-Director, Eco-Justice Collaborative
Coordinator, Coalition to Stop CO2 pipelines
How to fill out a witness slip
Click here to get started.
Under Identification, fill in your contact info.
- For "Firm, Business, or Agency", you can type "self", or, "<Last Name> Farms" if you have a business and/or farm that would be impacted.
- 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 farm or business
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. 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".