SAFETY AND COMMUNITY

The One Earth Sequestration (OES) project is designed with safety, transparency, and community partnership at its core. This page outlines how the project is engineered for safety, how OES works with local responders, and how we engage with the community to support preparedness and build trust.

Commitment to Community Safety

OES follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulations — the most protective well standards in the nation. These rules ensure that CO₂ is injected deep underground in a way that protects drinking water, land, and public health.

Safety planning includes:

Engineering controls
Continuous monitoring
Emergency response coordination
Regulatory oversight
Public transparency

How Safety Is Built Into the Project

Deep Geologic Containment

CO₂ is stored more than a mile underground in the Mt. Simon Sandstone, beneath multiple layers of low‑permeability rock that have held fluids in place for millions of years.

Well Construction Standards

The injection well is built with multiple layers of steel casing and cement, including CO₂‑resistant cement across the injection and confining zones. These materials are selected to remain stable in CO₂ environments and maintain long‑term integrity.

The well includes:

Surface and intermediate casing cemented to surface
Long‑string casing made of corrosion‑resistant alloy
CO₂‑resistant cement across the injection interval
A hydraulic‑set packer and corrosion‑inhibited annular fluid
Downhole pressure and temperature gauges

These design features ensure long‑term protection of groundwater and the environment.

Continuous Monitoring

OES uses a comprehensive monitoring system that operates 24/7. This includes continuous pressure and temperature monitoring, acoustic monitoring, annulus pressure tracking, and real‑time measurement of injection rate and volume. Groundwater sampling occurs in multiple formations, and mechanical integrity testing is performed regularly to verify well performance and safety.

Emergency Response Planning

OES works closely with local fire departments, county emergency management agencies, law enforcement, 911 dispatch, and regional hazardous materials teams. The project maintains a detailed Emergency Response Plan (ERP) developed with local officials, which outlines CO₂ hazard awareness, emergency procedures, responder roles, and communication pathways. The plan includes pipeline and wellsite access coordination, notification protocols, and joint training exercises to ensure readiness and effective response.

Training for Local Responders

OES provides training and resources to local responders, including:

CO₂ behavior and safety
Pipeline and wellsite familiarization
Monitoring system overview
Incident command coordination
Tabletop and field exercises

Training is updated as the project progresses and as new federal rules are finalized.

Coordination With County Emergency Management

OES collaborates with county emergency managers to:

Integrate project information into county emergency plans
Establish communication pathways
Ensure responders have real‑time contact information
Support public safety outreach

Public Safety Measures

To protect the community, OES implements:

24/7 monitoring of pressure, temperature, and flow
Automated alarms and shutoff systems
Remote pressure and flow controls
Regular inspections and mechanical integrity testing
CO₂‑resistant well construction materials
Groundwater monitoring in multiple formations

These measures work together to prevent incidents and ensure rapid response if needed.

Regulatory Oversight

Safety is enforced through:

U.S. EPA — Class VI well permitting and monitoring
PHMSA — CO₂ pipeline safety
Illinois Department of Natural Resources — drilling and well construction
County emergency management agencies — local coordination

Community Engagement & Preparedness Activities

Since 2022, OES has actively engaged with local stakeholders, emergency responders, and community organizations to support preparedness and build trust..

Key activities include:

Holding more than 100 community meetings, including sessions with farmers, landowners, local environmental groups, chambers of commerce, and other stakeholders.
Meeting with legislators and state agency leadership to answer questions and discuss project details.
Collaborating with geoscientists, engineers, and industry professionals to apply technical expertise to the project.
Developing a monitoring strategy to ensure project activities protect natural resources.
Working closely with local emergency management officials, fire departments, and hospitals to develop emergency operations and response plans.
Supporting local responders by providing safety equipment and training opportunities.
Demonstrating that OES possesses the financial, managerial, legal, and technical qualifications required for successful carbon dioxide capture and sequestration.

Responder Training & Preparedness

OES supports advanced training for local emergency responders to ensure readiness for CO₂‑related incidents and hazardous materials response.

Recent training activities include:

Advanced HazMat and CO₂ pipeline emergency training at TEEX, completed by Saybrook‑Arrowsmith Fire Protection District personnel on November 8–9, 2025.
A 40‑hour Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations Course delivered by the Gibson City Fire Protection District in partnership with the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), held July 26–27 and August 2–3, 2025.
TEEX HazMat Liquid and CO₂ Pipeline and Industrial Fire Emergencies Training, April 26–27, 2025.
SAFPD personnel completed advanced HazMat and CO₂ pipeline emergency training at TEEX on November 8–9, 2025.

Gibson City Fire Protection District, in partnership with the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) and with support from One Earth Energy, presented a 40-hour Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Awareness and Operations Course on July 26–27 and August 2–3, at the Fire Protection District building in Gibson City

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) HazMat Liquid and CO2 Pipeline and Industrial Fire Emergencies Training, April 26 - 27, 2025.

Expanded Community Engagement & Support

Community Giving

Since 2009, One Earth has contributed more than $617,000 to local organizations across Ford, Iroquois, Champaign, and McLean Counties. This includes support for:

County fairs and Farm Bureau foundations
Local parks and FFA chapters
EMS and fire districts
Food assistance programs, including a $20,000 donation to Midwest Food Bank
Gibson Area Hospital and other essential institutions
Renovation of the Sibley baseball/softball diamond

Annual giving is tracked across categories including community, agriculture, education, and environment. The full 2025 Community Giving Report is available for download.

Public Safety Support

One Earth provides direct support to local emergency responders, including:

Equipment donations
Training sponsorships
Operational resources for EMS and fire districts
Participation in TEEX and IFSI training programs

These efforts complement the project’s Emergency Response Plan and strengthen local preparedness.

Community Partnerships

OES is a major funder of the Children’s Discovery Museum’s new exhibit, “From the Farm to a Healthy Me.” This interactive experience connects children to agriculture and environmental science, with an estimated reach of 2 million visitors over 15–20 years.

Economic Impact

The combined carbon capture and ethanol expansion represents a $200 million investment in central Illinois. Each dollar invested generates $1.86 in economic activity, and each job created leads to 2.5 additional jobs statewide.

Stakeholder Engagement Events

OES continues to meet with farmers, landowners, environmental groups, chambers of commerce, and elected officials. To date, the team has held more than 100 community meetings to share updates, answer questions, and build trust.