The Sangamon County Board voted to extend the moratorium on CO2 Pipelines at Thursday's County Board Meeting. By a unanimous vote, the moratorium was extended through December 31st of this year.
The County felt that a moratorium remains justified given unresolved issues involving public health and safety concerns, continued research on zoning guidelines, potential impacts, and remedies to the county highway system, and proposed changes in state law.
Sangamon County has also filed a Petition to Intervene, joining several local governments across Illinois and Iowa.
Sangamon County Chairman Andy Van Meter previously stated, "The County understands that ultimately it may be determined, either through continued ongoing legal research, a ruling from a court of law, an ICC ruling or a change in state law, that it has no role in regulating the Navigator pipeline. Regardless, the County feels that it is taking the responsible and reasonable approach it is allowed to do so at this time on this important project, especially given ongoing questions and concerns."