The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a permit allowing carbon dioxide to be injected and stored underground at the Cardinal Ethanol facility in Randolph County, Indiana.

The permit authorizes One Carbon Partnership to construct and operate a carbon storage well capable of injecting up to 450,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Over the project’s planned 30-year lifespan, the site could store as much as 13.5 million metric tons of CO₂ deep beneath the surface.

The approval follows EPA’s technical review process and a period of public engagement. The agency determined the project meets federal requirements designed to protect underground sources of drinking water.

Under the permit, One Carbon Partnership must monitor the injection well throughout the operational phase and continue monitoring activities for 50 years after injection ends. The long-term oversight is intended to confirm that the carbon dioxide remains contained within the designated underground storage zone.

The storage formation lies between 3,100 and 3,659 feet below ground. According to EPA’s evaluation, the formation is sealed by a 487-foot-thick confining layer of caprock that acts as a barrier preventing carbon dioxide from migrating upward into groundwater sources.

EPA also reviewed the proposed well construction materials, operational procedures, and the geological characteristics of the site. The agency concluded these factors are sufficient to prevent risks to underground drinking water supplies.

During the injection phase, EPA will maintain regulatory oversight of the project to ensure compliance with permit conditions and monitoring requirements.

The practice of injecting carbon dioxide into deep geological formations for long-term storage is commonly referred to as carbon sequestration. The technology is intended to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial sources and storing it underground.

Carbon storage wells are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which established specific permitting criteria to ensure that underground injection activities do not endanger drinking water aquifers.

The permit decision will remain open to appeals for 30 days after issuance.