Peel Region staff…

Peel Region staff acknowledge that commercial-scale geologic carbon storage (CCS) offers a promising solution to mitigate climate change, but also presents significant risks that must be considered.

Regulatory frameworks and monitoring systems must be robust, and long-term financing must be secured to ensure the integrity of these systems over centuries to prevent leakage.

Peel Region staff raise concerns regarding the potential impact on aquifers feeding municipal drinking water supply wells. Potential seismic activity associated with CCS may fracture aquitards or change natural flow regime. Peel Region staff suggest heightened precautions in vulnerable areas, with linkages to the Clean Water Act, emphasize the need for qualified persons to review the potential for groundwater contamination, and request notification of CCS locations to applicable Source Protection Authorities.

Public perception about environmental safety and potential health impacts could hinder acceptance and deployment of this technology.