EPA rejects permit application for Covington County CO2 storage hub, sources say
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rejected a permit application for the Pine Hill Storage Hub, according to Covington County lawyer and farmer Wesley Laird.
The Hub is a project in Covington County that many residents and lawmakers have been against.
According to Laird, the permit application was denied because it was incomplete. Laird received a copy of a Notice of Deficiency after residents filed a Freedom of Information Act request for documents.
In the Notice of Deficiency that WAKA Action 8 has obtained, the denial letter dated August 14, 2025 was sent from the EPA to a redacted company notifying the company that their permit application is incomplete and cannot be processed until it has met ‘all applicable requirements.’
“The EPA is requiring basic public information that should have been included from the
start,” says Laird. “Our community has a right to see a complete picture of what’s being proposed before a project of this magnitude moves forward.”
In the August notice, the EPA informed Reliant CCS that their Class VI permit application was missing information, including a map of injection wells and area of review an automatic shutoff device is neither described nor shown on the well schematics.
The proposed Pine Hills facility would store millions of tons of carbon dioxide per year underground. According to Reliant CCS, the site will be monitored 24/7 and regulated by federal and state agencies.
Residents are worried that the storage hub would have hazardous impacts on a major aquifer that supplies fresh water to Covington County, Alabama’s Wiregrass area, and Northwest Florida.
Laird says the application acknowledges the presence of wells in the area that were not properly plugged, raising concerns about potential pathways for CO₂ migration.
“This project could impact our groundwater and land for generations,” Laird said. “The public should see the same information as the EPA, not heavily redacted documents.”
Community organizers plan to formally appeal certain redactions on the notice with the EPA. Under FOIA regulations, appellants have 90 days from the date of EPA’s response letter to file their appeal.
The Pine Hills project has faced growing opposition from Covington County residents.
Lawmakers representing the district have pre-filed HB61, a constitutional amendment that would ban carbon dioxide injection and storage in Covington County. If it passes the legislature, the constitutional amendment is expected to appear on the May 2026 ballot for residents to vote on.
The EPA says the Safe Drinking Water Act Section 1421 prohibits underground injection, which is not authorized by rule or a permit issued by EPA or an authorized state.
WAKA Action 8 News has reached out to Reliant CCS to find out if they plan to resubmit their application and what their next steps are.
Spokesperson for Reliant CCS Jeff Emerson released a statement to WAKA Action 8, saying:
“We received this letter from the EPA months ago and requesting additional information is a standard part of their permit reviews. This demonstrates, as we’ve shared with the community, that the EPA approval process is strenuous, thorough and will ensure the highest level of safety. Reliant will continue to engage with the community as the application moves forward.
“The Pine Hills Storage Hub will support Alabama’s need for reliable, affordable energy. With energy demand soaring, we need solutions that allow us to use dependable American-made energy, protect the environment and create economic opportunities. The Pine Hills Storage Hub will use proven Carbon Capture and Storage technology to support our economy and meet our energy needs.”
Action 8 is also working to find out if there will be more town halls planned to help give residents an opportunity to ask more questions.
We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
