The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting the public to weigh in on a proposed permit that would allow underground carbon storage at the Cardinal Ethanol facility in Randolph County. A 49-day public comment period is now open for community feedback on the draft permit for One Carbon Partnership, the company behind the project.

The EPA’s draft permit would authorize One Carbon Partnership to inject and store up to 450,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year for the next 30 years. That totals 13.5 million metric tons of CO₂, which would be stored deep underground in a process known as carbon sequestration.

To ensure safety, One Carbon Partnership would be required to monitor the well not only throughout the injection phase but also for 50 years after the injections end. This long-term monitoring is designed to confirm that the carbon stays safely confined in a deep rock formation and does not contaminate underground sources of drinking water.

The storage formation lies between 3,100 and 3,659 feet below the surface. It's capped by a 487-foot-thick layer of rock known as a confining zone, which acts as a natural barrier to keep the carbon in place. EPA scientists reviewed the project’s geology, well design, and operation plans and concluded that they meet federal safety standards to protect underground water.

To give the public a chance to learn more and share their thoughts, EPA will host a public availability session and hearing on Thursday, December 4, at Winchester Community High School. The availability session runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the hearing from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Both events will be held in the school’s Commons area at 700 N Union St, Winchester, Indiana.

Community members can also submit comments in writing if they’re unable to attend the event.