August 26, 2013 – Time was when I thought of the EPA as the
good guys. Industry – the bad guys –
would once again imperil the water we drink, or the air that we breathe, and
the EPA would ride to the rescue. Something
happened ( I believe it’s described as the Bush II administration), and the EPA
began to excel at twiddling their thumbs, and little else. Though twiddling may have lost its luster, I’m
still not sure their hearts are really into protecting the environment.
Case in point: the new regulations issued by the EPA last
week that will reduce air pollution created by “fracked” wells. But, you say, isn’t it the EPA’s job to issue
those very regulations? Indeed it is, I
reply. Everyone knows that’s their job,
except – apparently – the EPA.
Otherwise, why did the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
have to order them to take action?
Yup. You see, the Environmental
Protection Agency is tasked by law with reviewing pollution standards once every
eight years. I know you’ll find this
hard to believe, but in 2009 (notice the date), environmental groups sued the
agency, alleging it hadn’t done its job.
Now why might that have happened?
For the record, the new regulations will require gas
producers to capture the burst of emissions that takes place when a well is
being brought online. They will, among
other things, reduce methane emissions.
Because methane is 25x more toxic to humans than carbon dioxide, this is
an important benefit of the new rules.
The process used to reduce methane, and a host of other
polluting gases emitted by fracked wells, is known as “green completion.” Truck-mounted equipment captures the effluent
given off for about three to ten days after water, sand and chemicals are
injected into a well. The captured gas
and liquid hydrocarbons can be separated, treated, and sold. Green completions reduce the volatile organic
compounds placed into the atmosphere by nearly 95 percent. As
rightly observed by Gina McCarthy, newly-designated head of the EPA, green
completions promote responsible production of natural gas while protecting the
public, and “do it in a way that more than pays for itself.”
There can be no question that green completion forces gas
producers to limit the amount of damage they inflict on the environment. Unfortunately, the new rules don’t impact the
pollution created by compressor stations, storage tanks and other equipment
essential to the production of natural gas.
Nevertheless, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said it
welcomes the new regulations, but voiced disappointment regarding their delayed
implementation. They won’t be in full
force until 2015, in order to allow gas producers to design/procure the
necessary equipment. The NRDC argues
this can be accomplished more quickly.
In any case, “hip, hip, hooray” for an imperfect solution
that is badly needed. While we can all
rejoice in taking this significant step forward, only time will tell if this
turns out to have been a step in the direction of the EPA remembering why it
was brought into existence in the first place.
Perhaps it will feel so good to help people, they’ll want to do more of
it. The proud history of the EPA should
remind present-day environmentalists that they stand on the shoulders of
giants.
That helps, when part of your job requires seeing far into
the future.
With thanks to the miamiherald.com.
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