Committee reviews draft zoning amendment and proposes task force to study carbon sequestration near Mahomet Aquifer

Committee members reviewed a draft approach to prepare a comprehensive zoning ordinance text amendment intended to address concerns about carbon sequestration activities in Champaign County, and discussed forming a task force to develop guidance and a potential temporary moratorium.

The document, prepared by staff and refined by committee member John Hall, outlines a process to draft zoning language that could limit or regulate carbon sequestration operations in proximity to groundwater resources. Committee members said the county should not focus solely on the Mahomet Aquifer but should consider smaller glacial aquifers and other water-bearing strata that supply local wells.

Why it matters: Committee members described the Mahomet Aquifer as a primary regional water source and said contamination or induced changes in groundwater flow could affect drinking water availability in parts of the county. Members proposed a 12-month moratorium template to pause permitting while the task force develops longer-term ordinance language and recommended using the county board’s letterhead to encourage neighboring counties and state representatives to consider similar temporary moratoria.

Discussion highlights

Scope and goal The chair presented a collaborative draft that staff member Chris and committee member John Hall improved. Committee members agreed the task force should look countywide and also specifically consider areas outside the Mahomet Aquifer footprint that rely on smaller, sole-source glacial aquifers.

Proposed task force composition and timeline Committee members suggested a roughly 10-person task force including county representatives, staff from the Illinois State Water Survey or the Illinois State Geological Survey, and possibly state legislators. The committee set a goal of producing a task-force proposal for the full County Board at the March meeting, with a target to complete draft ordinance language and routing to the Zoning Board of Appeals and back to the committee within a roughly six- to seven-month working timeline so it can be considered before a 12-month moratorium would expire.

Mapping and data Members noted that a comprehensive map of the Mahomet Aquifer is not yet available; one participant said a detailed map might not be ready until late 2025. Staff suggested the task force could define boundaries by regulatory or functional definitions that can be updated as mapping improves.

Public and staff input Aaron, an ELUC member, urged protection of all water-bearing strata, not only the Mahomet Aquifer. "We need to protect all of it," Aaron said, adding that some areas rely on deep wells and smaller aquifers that are harder to define but are sole sources for their local communities. Staff member Chris offered to help draft the task-force materials and to share research he previously used while working at the university.

Next steps The committee agreed to ask staff and committee members to prepare a formal task-force outline for the next meeting so the County Board can consider establishing the task force at its March meeting. The committee discussed outreach to neighboring counties and the state legislature, and requested members email staff with suggestions before the next meeting.

Ending: Committee directed staff and interested members to draft a task-force formation proposal, including membership, scope, timeline and interim moratorium language, for presentation to the full County Board in March."