On
July 24, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on
Environment and Hazardous Materials held a hearing to investigate the
effect that carbon capture and storage (CCS) would have on drinking
water and to give Members a better understanding of the technical
nature of the technology. Members from both parties voiced concerns
over the issue.
Subcommittee
Ranking Member John Shadegg (R-AZ) reminded the panel of Methyl
Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), which was used to reduce auto emissions,
but later found to contaminate large quantities of groundwater. "It
would be a grave error to move forward with technology that would
replace one environmental problem with another environmental problem,"
Shadegg said.
Rep.
Doris Matsui (D-CA) asked if the current CCS testing projects were
looking at issues such as pressuring volts and changing ecosystems.
The Department of Energy witness noted that, at this time, the tests
are only on small-scale projects but that the U.S. Geological Survey
will be conducting tests on more large-scale projects and Matsui's
concerns will be focused on in those studies.
Subcommittee
Chairman Gene Green (D-TX) noted in his statement a recent release by
EPA of its proposal to regulate the underground injection of CO2 by
power plants and other industrial pollution sources. EPA's proposed
rule is aimed at protecting drinking water sources during and after the
geologic sequestration process.