A proposed carbon capture and storage project planned for northeastern Alberta is raising growing concerns in the County of St. Paul, with residents warning council about potential risks to groundwater, public safety and rural communities.

During a delegation to council, Amal Shapka and Penny Fox of the No CO2 Pipelines Alberta Coalition urged the County to support calls for a formal environmental impact assessment on the proposed Oil Sands Alliance carbon capture project.

The group told council residents have spent more than two years trying to gather information about the development, but say communication from project proponents has been limited.

“With only one short open house held in 2024, there has been no presence of the Oil Sands Alliance in our community to answer questions, share information or keep the community aware of this proposed project,” the delegation told council.

According to information presented at the meeting, the project would involve more than 500 kilometres of large-diameter pipeline stretching from Fort McMurray south to Lac Bellevue, with plans to permanently inject between 10 and 12 megatonnes of CO2 underground beneath parts of the region.

The delegation described the proposal as potentially the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world.

Residents raised concerns about groundwater contamination, emergency response preparedness, long-term environmental liability and the overall scale of the project.

The presenters also questioned what benefits local residents and County ratepayers would receive in exchange for assuming additional risk.

“Other countries have been using this technology for some time and problems are popping up causing big problems,” the delegation stated.

Council also heard concerns about how emergency crews would respond in the event of a pipeline incident.

The group noted CO2 is an odourless asphyxiant and warned that combustion engines can fail in high-concentration CO2 environments, potentially creating additional challenges during emergencies.

As part of the delegation, the coalition formally asked the County to support demands for a full environmental impact assessment to be conducted by the Alberta Energy Regulator before the project moves further.

Council members acknowledged the concerns raised and discussed whether neighbouring municipalities should work together to advocate for stronger oversight and environmental review requirements.

Councillor Darrell Younghans said municipalities may have greater influence if they approach the issue regionally rather than individually.

Reeve Glen Ockerman also expressed frustration over what he sees as a lack of provincial leadership on the issue.

“I always wished the province would take the lead on this,” Ockerman said during council discussion.

While council did not pass a formal motion related to the project during the meeting, members discussed continuing regional conversations with neighbouring municipalities and monitoring the issue moving forward.

The delegation was ultimately accepted as information by council.

Carbon capture and storage projects are being promoted across Alberta as part of broader emissions reduction strategies tied to the energy sector. Supporters argue the technology could help reduce industrial emissions while protecting jobs and investment, while critics continue raising concerns about environmental impacts, public safety and long-term accountability.