{open_quotes}In close proximity{close_quotes} to E&P waste management facilities: Lessons of three communities in the Four Corners Area
- Southwest Research and Information Center, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Contaminant releases from E&P waste management facilities located near residences in three communities in the Four Corners Area -- two in New Mexico and one in Utah -- spurred vocal concern among local residents in recent years. Noxious odors, including hydrogen sulfide, were present in all cases and releases of production wastes and oil spills were prevalent in two of the cases. In all three, residents said they felt powerless to change operator or agency decisions about siting of facilities close to places where people congregate. These cases illustrate the need for regulators to consider facility locations in permitting decisions. They also demonstrate the need for creation of statutorily recognized buffer zones around new oil and gas production and processing facilities where releases of pollutants to the air, land and water can reasonably be expected, regardless of the level of pollution control. Buffer zones may be especially important in states where local governments have not elected to adopt land use and zoning requirements that affect the siting of E&P facilities. Agency and corporate sensitivity to siting concerns will engender public confidence in permitting decisions and avoid the needless waste of public and private resources.
- OSTI ID:
- 146418
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9406354-; TRN: 95:008189-0031
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission annual bulletin, Breckenridge, CO (United States), 26-28 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission - 1994 annual bulletin, Volume VIII; PB: 355 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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