By Sandra Cason - The Marshall News Messenger - Friday, February 08, 2008
It's all about water, said Dale Henry, Democratic candidate for Texas Railroad Commission.
"My campaign is important for one reason," Henry said, "and that is because the state of Texas is running out of water. It is an abused natural resource and the Railroad Commission has done nothing about it for the past 106 years."
If he is elected in this, his third bid for the seat, Henry said he will be the first commissioner with hands-on experience in oil and gas exploration, the industry for which the commission provides oversight.
Henry faces Art Hall and Mark Thompson in the March 4 Democratic Primary. If he is the party nominee, Henry will face Republican incumbent Michael Williams in the November general election.
A resident of Lampasas, 50 miles west of Austin, and a graduate of University of Texas, Henry is a retired employee of Schlumber J company, having worked in the oil fields of Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf.
"I spent a number of years in research and development and I hold several fracturing patents," Henry said.
"I've been out there and seen it all," he added.
While many people may not stop to think about it that way, Henry pointed out that oil and gas drilling operations have a tremendous impact on ground water.
"Oil and gas activity inherently produces a lot of water," Henry said. "Water is what is used to bring it to the surface, but on its way, the water accumulates contaminated materials."
A common disposal method for the liquid is "to put it back in the ground."
Henry said he learned of a DeBerry preacher whose church hasn't had water in a number of years. "One well was drilled too close to his church and all the wells in the area are contaminated with salt water. You can drill a hundred good ones, but it takes just one bad well to create a whole bunch of problems," Henry said.
Good drilling practices are particularly important at this point in time because so many production companies are now using a horizontal approach.
"There's an area called the Barnett Shale," Henry said. "It is a very thick layer of stone and breaking through it has never made the effort worthwhile until horizontal drilling. That's the key."
In this method, the pipeline goes down for a distance, "turns a corner," and goes under the stone, Henry explained.
This type of drilling uses "millions of gallons of water per day. Sometimes it will be as much as 275,000 gallons," Henry added.
With such large quantities to be disposed of, Henry said it is more important than ever that the Railroad Commission check all drilling permit applications thoroughly, a practice he claims is not currently followed.
"This rubber-stamping has to stop," he said.
Use of environmentally safe drilling practices are especially important to this area because of Caddo Lake, Henry said.
"I've done hands-on work for the Railroad Commission in Caddo — the plugging of abandoned wells. Ninety percent of those I plugged had not be plugged by Railroad Commission rules and regulations the first time around.
"I will make protecting our water a priority for the Texas Railroad Commission," Henry said in a promotional brochure.
"In dry West Texas, the ranchers have to work hard at salvaging water to grow grass with which to feed cattle and produce beef. At the ranch my wife and I have operated for years, we cut the number of production acres needed per cow and calf from 25 acres to 2.5 acres by getting our water to the right place.
"Water's my passion. I know how to do it," Henry said.
"I'm not a politician and I shouldn't have to be involved in this, but the oil and gas companies are polluting our water, soil, and air, and the Railroad Commission simply turns its back and lets it happen.
"Instead of regulating these industries, the three commissioners are raking in campaign contributions from their executives and political action committees and are burying their heads in the sand.
"It's time for change," Henry said. "I need to bring the knowledge I have back to the people, if they'd like me to share it.
"I can do the job. I want the job.
"The petroleum industry is a great benefit to our state's economy, but that should not come at the expense of our environment or our fresh water supply," he said.
Read more in the Marshall News Messenger
Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Tx RR Commission Candidate - Dale Henry: Protecting state's water a priority
By RANDY ROSS - Longview News-Journal - Friday, February 08, 2008
Protecting the waters of Texas is a priority for Dale Henry.
The 76-year-old Democratic candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission said the production of oil and gas in Texas does not matter if the industry destroys Texas' natural water sources.
"We have to stop wasting and contaminating our water," Henry said.
Henry faces Art Hall of San Antonio and Mark Thompson of Hamilton in the Democratic primary election on March 4.
Henry has more than 40 years of experience working in the oil and natural gas fields in the United States and abroad, according to his campaign Web site. He has a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
"I've been hands-on from the top to the bottom," Henry said. "I more or less speak the language of the oilfield."
The Railroad Commission is the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry and the surface mining of coal. Established by the Legislature in 1891, the commission is the state's oldest regulatory agency, according to the agency's Web site.
The self-described environmentalist from Lampasas is a former city manager and county commissioner. He also founded 4 Arrows, the first cementing service company contracted by the railroad commission.
Henry said his experience in the oil and gas industry make him an ideal candidate for the commission. He said he knows the commission's rules and regulations from working as a contractor, and he would be able to begin working on his first day.
The oil and gas industry has a strong economic impact on the state, he said. That impact has come at a cost to the public, he said.
Henry said the commission has for many years considered the economics of the industry more important than public safety. He said that philosophy has changed in recent years, but it needs to continue to change. He said the commission must consider what is in the public's best interest.
"Environmentally, we have a problem," Henry said.
He said companies often cut corners when installing casing in wells to save money. As time erodes sealing and concrete shifts, water begins flowing and drawing out contaminants.
By forcing companies to install casing properly, Henry said companies would save more money in the long-term by avoiding remedial and repair work.
"These are serious matters," Henry said.
Attempts to reach Republican incumbent Michael Williams for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.
Read more in the Longview News-Journal
Protecting the waters of Texas is a priority for Dale Henry.
The 76-year-old Democratic candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission said the production of oil and gas in Texas does not matter if the industry destroys Texas' natural water sources.
"We have to stop wasting and contaminating our water," Henry said.
Henry faces Art Hall of San Antonio and Mark Thompson of Hamilton in the Democratic primary election on March 4.
Henry has more than 40 years of experience working in the oil and natural gas fields in the United States and abroad, according to his campaign Web site. He has a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
"I've been hands-on from the top to the bottom," Henry said. "I more or less speak the language of the oilfield."
The Railroad Commission is the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry and the surface mining of coal. Established by the Legislature in 1891, the commission is the state's oldest regulatory agency, according to the agency's Web site.
The self-described environmentalist from Lampasas is a former city manager and county commissioner. He also founded 4 Arrows, the first cementing service company contracted by the railroad commission.
Henry said his experience in the oil and gas industry make him an ideal candidate for the commission. He said he knows the commission's rules and regulations from working as a contractor, and he would be able to begin working on his first day.
The oil and gas industry has a strong economic impact on the state, he said. That impact has come at a cost to the public, he said.
Henry said the commission has for many years considered the economics of the industry more important than public safety. He said that philosophy has changed in recent years, but it needs to continue to change. He said the commission must consider what is in the public's best interest.
"Environmentally, we have a problem," Henry said.
He said companies often cut corners when installing casing in wells to save money. As time erodes sealing and concrete shifts, water begins flowing and drawing out contaminants.
By forcing companies to install casing properly, Henry said companies would save more money in the long-term by avoiding remedial and repair work.
"These are serious matters," Henry said.
Attempts to reach Republican incumbent Michael Williams for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.
Read more in the Longview News-Journal
Monday, August 27, 2007
Grand Prairie toughens rules on gas wells near homes - Requirements for wells within 1,000 feet aren't enough, residents say
By KATHY A. GOOLSBY - The Dallas Morning News - Sat., August 25, 2007
Grand Prairie's City Council tightened its gas drilling and production ordinance last week, further restricting wells located less than 1,000 feet from homes.
But some residents say the new rules are not tough enough and will do little to discourage companies from drilling near neighborhoods.
"Oil companies don't care about those restrictions," said Frank Viso, who lives in the Grand Peninsula area near Joe Pool Lake. "If you're drilling for $55 million in gas and they charge you $10,000, that's a drop in the bucket. The only ones who are going to make anything off this is the city with the permitting."
Both the original ordinance and the amended rules allow gas drilling within 500 feet of homes. The new rules increase fees and add restrictions for wells within 1,000 feet. Requirements for such wells include additional noise abatements, such as hospital-grade mufflers and sound barriers; hard surfaces on driveways and parking areas to reduce dust; and stone walls or wrought-iron fences covered by landscaping to screen the site.
"We've also increased the fees," said Jim Cummings, the city's environmental services director. "We've doubled them. It's $5,000 now, so it'll be $10,000 for wells within 1,000 feet."
Mr. Viso said Grand Peninsula residents have been approached by a company trying to lease mineral rights in hopes of drilling wells on the west side of Lakeridge Parkway near Hanger Lowe Road. He would prefer that any wells in that area be limited to the east side of Lakeridge.
The city has approved six of the nine permit requests it has received since the ordinance was passed in September 2005, Mr. Cummings said. No permit requests have been submitted for the Lakeridge area.
Mr. Viso said residents have safety and quality-of-life concerns. Breezes from the lake blow through the proposed well sites and across the neighborhood, he said, and would carry any odors or other airborne pollutants to the residents.
Christina Kang, a state-certified residential appraiser who moved to the peninsula last year, is afraid that homes closest to the wells would decrease in value. With so much open space around the lake, she said, there is plenty of room to move wells farther from residential areas.
City Council member Ron Jensen, who represents the lake area, said officials can't tell people not to drill on their own land as long as they are following the rules.
"If I was a homeowner living on the peninsula, I wouldn't want a drilling rig behind my house either," Mr. Jensen said. "But we're not going to get into the decision-making process of telling someone he can or can't put a drill on his land. This council doesn't like interfering with individual homeowners."
The ordinance must apply throughout the city, even in areas with fewer open spaces than the peninsula, Mr. Cummings said. In more densely populated neighborhoods, disallowing wells within 1,000 feet would eliminate drilling sites near enough to bring up the gas.
State law says that mineral owners must be given access to those minerals, Mr. Cummings said.
"We're trying to strike a balance between the folks with mineral rights and the rights of residents to use their property and not be subject to nuisances," Mr. Cummings said. "When you compare our ordinance with others in the metroplex, we feel ours lines up."
Some municipalities have less-restrictive ordinances. Dallas and Arlington have a standard setback of 300 feet from homes, and Fort Worth's setback is 600 feet.
Like Grand Prairie, Flower Mound, Grapevine and Trophy Club have a more restrictive residential setback of 1,000 feet, but do not specify additional fees and restrictions for closer wells.
However, most cities have a process allowing companies to request a waiver of the distance requirements, usually by consent of all affected property owners, council approval or both.
In Grand Prairie, three-fourths of the council must approve the waiver for drilling closer than 500 feet to homes, but in no instance is a well allowed within 300 feet. State municipal code sets the minimum distance at 200 feet, but cities can impose stricter regulations.
It's the waiver possibility that concerns Ted Arrington, who lives in the Enclave at Westchester. Although no permit application has been submitted to the city, a well site has been proposed 563 feet from his home, he said.
"There are places where these wells explode, and there are four houses between mine and the site," Mr. Arrington said. "That puts six adults and at least eight children closer than me, and we have a day-care center near here. There's a lot of discomfort and worry about our children being here and what a well will do to our neighborhood."
Mr. Arrington would like the oil and gas companies to go elsewhere, but he understands that the city can't prohibit drilling. The tighter restrictions are at least a step in the right direction, he said.
"If we can't make it illegal, let's at least make it more difficult," Mr. Arrington said. "It's one more hurdle for them, but I don't think it's going to be a deterrent."
Read more in the Dallas Morning News
Grand Prairie's City Council tightened its gas drilling and production ordinance last week, further restricting wells located less than 1,000 feet from homes.
But some residents say the new rules are not tough enough and will do little to discourage companies from drilling near neighborhoods.
"Oil companies don't care about those restrictions," said Frank Viso, who lives in the Grand Peninsula area near Joe Pool Lake. "If you're drilling for $55 million in gas and they charge you $10,000, that's a drop in the bucket. The only ones who are going to make anything off this is the city with the permitting."
Both the original ordinance and the amended rules allow gas drilling within 500 feet of homes. The new rules increase fees and add restrictions for wells within 1,000 feet. Requirements for such wells include additional noise abatements, such as hospital-grade mufflers and sound barriers; hard surfaces on driveways and parking areas to reduce dust; and stone walls or wrought-iron fences covered by landscaping to screen the site.
"We've also increased the fees," said Jim Cummings, the city's environmental services director. "We've doubled them. It's $5,000 now, so it'll be $10,000 for wells within 1,000 feet."
Mr. Viso said Grand Peninsula residents have been approached by a company trying to lease mineral rights in hopes of drilling wells on the west side of Lakeridge Parkway near Hanger Lowe Road. He would prefer that any wells in that area be limited to the east side of Lakeridge.
The city has approved six of the nine permit requests it has received since the ordinance was passed in September 2005, Mr. Cummings said. No permit requests have been submitted for the Lakeridge area.
Mr. Viso said residents have safety and quality-of-life concerns. Breezes from the lake blow through the proposed well sites and across the neighborhood, he said, and would carry any odors or other airborne pollutants to the residents.
Christina Kang, a state-certified residential appraiser who moved to the peninsula last year, is afraid that homes closest to the wells would decrease in value. With so much open space around the lake, she said, there is plenty of room to move wells farther from residential areas.
City Council member Ron Jensen, who represents the lake area, said officials can't tell people not to drill on their own land as long as they are following the rules.
"If I was a homeowner living on the peninsula, I wouldn't want a drilling rig behind my house either," Mr. Jensen said. "But we're not going to get into the decision-making process of telling someone he can or can't put a drill on his land. This council doesn't like interfering with individual homeowners."
The ordinance must apply throughout the city, even in areas with fewer open spaces than the peninsula, Mr. Cummings said. In more densely populated neighborhoods, disallowing wells within 1,000 feet would eliminate drilling sites near enough to bring up the gas.
State law says that mineral owners must be given access to those minerals, Mr. Cummings said.
"We're trying to strike a balance between the folks with mineral rights and the rights of residents to use their property and not be subject to nuisances," Mr. Cummings said. "When you compare our ordinance with others in the metroplex, we feel ours lines up."
Some municipalities have less-restrictive ordinances. Dallas and Arlington have a standard setback of 300 feet from homes, and Fort Worth's setback is 600 feet.
Like Grand Prairie, Flower Mound, Grapevine and Trophy Club have a more restrictive residential setback of 1,000 feet, but do not specify additional fees and restrictions for closer wells.
However, most cities have a process allowing companies to request a waiver of the distance requirements, usually by consent of all affected property owners, council approval or both.
In Grand Prairie, three-fourths of the council must approve the waiver for drilling closer than 500 feet to homes, but in no instance is a well allowed within 300 feet. State municipal code sets the minimum distance at 200 feet, but cities can impose stricter regulations.
It's the waiver possibility that concerns Ted Arrington, who lives in the Enclave at Westchester. Although no permit application has been submitted to the city, a well site has been proposed 563 feet from his home, he said.
"There are places where these wells explode, and there are four houses between mine and the site," Mr. Arrington said. "That puts six adults and at least eight children closer than me, and we have a day-care center near here. There's a lot of discomfort and worry about our children being here and what a well will do to our neighborhood."
Mr. Arrington would like the oil and gas companies to go elsewhere, but he understands that the city can't prohibit drilling. The tighter restrictions are at least a step in the right direction, he said.
"If we can't make it illegal, let's at least make it more difficult," Mr. Arrington said. "It's one more hurdle for them, but I don't think it's going to be a deterrent."
Read more in the Dallas Morning News
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Regional focus on air quality - State environmental agency offers grants to clean up gas compressors
Galen Scott - Weatherford Democrat - June 22, 2007
State environmental officials announced $4 million in grants designed to help Texas natural gas producers limit harmful emission levels Friday.
Nine counties in the Dallas/Fort Worth air quality non-attainment area, including Parker, were identified in a group where “rich-burn” gas compressor engines are producing high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx).
“Rich-burn” engines run on natural gas and are usually located near individual gas wells or at extraction junctions. Though most produce less than 500 horsepower, official estimates indicate the engines emit 32 tons of NOx per day and contribute to the growing Metroplex air quality problem.
The engines are used for moving natural gas to market. Since mineral production levels in the Fort Worth Basin began their steady climb six years ago, an unknown number of compressors have been installed.
Andrea Morrow, a spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the agency is currently conducting a study to find out how many of the rich-burn compressor engines are in each county.
“[The engines] are going to need to be retrofitted in order to comply with the new rules and these grants are going to help with the cost of that,” Morrow said.
Despite prolific activity associated with the Barnett Shale, the incentive to cooperate could be higher in East Texas where the state also offered 33 other counties the same retrofit reimbursement deal.
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) authored Senate Bill 2000, which freed up the funding. Eltife’s district managed to ward off non-attainment classification in 1997 when the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced additional eight-hour ozone standards. If East Texas counties remain in attainment, the region could avoid the same set of motor vehicle restrictions currently hinging on the next Metroplex air quality assessment.
“This legislation set up a grant program to help reduce emissions in our area on certain compressors in the oil field by over 96 percent,” Eltife said in a statement. “This is very important in helping us keep our area in attainment.”
In 1990, the EPA classified nine counties surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth as “moderate” ozone non-attainment, meaning those counties failed to meet national air quality standards. Since the original federal designation, Metroplex non-attainment areas have failed to achieve compliance by deadlines mandated in 1996 and 1999, and the EPA reclassified the region as “serious.” After an extension was granted in 1999, the pending DFW attainment date was set for November of this year.
Several important federal concessions are tied to an area’s EPA air quality attainment status, including transportation funding, but whether or not gas operators in the Dallas/Fort Worth area will choose to participate in the grant program remains to be seen.
The grant system was designed to serve as a partial reimbursement of costs associated with the installation of new NOx reduction systems. So far, retrofitting remains voluntary, emissions reductions must be verified in order to receive grant money and the state only provides a 75 percent reimbursement of capital costs.
And because much of local gas exploration is taking place near businesses and homes, some Barnett Shale drillers are already paying out of pocket to address noise and safety concerns.
Three local operators did not immediately respond to requests for interviews regarding the compressor engine grant program Friday.
See Weatherford-Democrat
gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com
State environmental officials announced $4 million in grants designed to help Texas natural gas producers limit harmful emission levels Friday.
Nine counties in the Dallas/Fort Worth air quality non-attainment area, including Parker, were identified in a group where “rich-burn” gas compressor engines are producing high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx).
“Rich-burn” engines run on natural gas and are usually located near individual gas wells or at extraction junctions. Though most produce less than 500 horsepower, official estimates indicate the engines emit 32 tons of NOx per day and contribute to the growing Metroplex air quality problem.
The engines are used for moving natural gas to market. Since mineral production levels in the Fort Worth Basin began their steady climb six years ago, an unknown number of compressors have been installed.
Andrea Morrow, a spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the agency is currently conducting a study to find out how many of the rich-burn compressor engines are in each county.
“[The engines] are going to need to be retrofitted in order to comply with the new rules and these grants are going to help with the cost of that,” Morrow said.
Despite prolific activity associated with the Barnett Shale, the incentive to cooperate could be higher in East Texas where the state also offered 33 other counties the same retrofit reimbursement deal.
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) authored Senate Bill 2000, which freed up the funding. Eltife’s district managed to ward off non-attainment classification in 1997 when the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced additional eight-hour ozone standards. If East Texas counties remain in attainment, the region could avoid the same set of motor vehicle restrictions currently hinging on the next Metroplex air quality assessment.
“This legislation set up a grant program to help reduce emissions in our area on certain compressors in the oil field by over 96 percent,” Eltife said in a statement. “This is very important in helping us keep our area in attainment.”
In 1990, the EPA classified nine counties surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth as “moderate” ozone non-attainment, meaning those counties failed to meet national air quality standards. Since the original federal designation, Metroplex non-attainment areas have failed to achieve compliance by deadlines mandated in 1996 and 1999, and the EPA reclassified the region as “serious.” After an extension was granted in 1999, the pending DFW attainment date was set for November of this year.
Several important federal concessions are tied to an area’s EPA air quality attainment status, including transportation funding, but whether or not gas operators in the Dallas/Fort Worth area will choose to participate in the grant program remains to be seen.
The grant system was designed to serve as a partial reimbursement of costs associated with the installation of new NOx reduction systems. So far, retrofitting remains voluntary, emissions reductions must be verified in order to receive grant money and the state only provides a 75 percent reimbursement of capital costs.
And because much of local gas exploration is taking place near businesses and homes, some Barnett Shale drillers are already paying out of pocket to address noise and safety concerns.
Three local operators did not immediately respond to requests for interviews regarding the compressor engine grant program Friday.
State environmental officials announced $4 million in grants designed to help Texas natural gas producers limit harmful emission levels Friday.
Nine counties in the Dallas/Fort Worth air quality non-attainment area, including Parker, were identified in a group where “rich-burn” gas compressor engines are producing high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx).
“Rich-burn” engines run on natural gas and are usually located near individual gas wells or at extraction junctions. Though most produce less than 500 horsepower, official estimates indicate the engines emit 32 tons of NOx per day and contribute to the growing Metroplex air quality problem.
The engines are used for moving natural gas to market. Since mineral production levels in the Fort Worth Basin began their steady climb six years ago, an unknown number of compressors have been installed.
Andrea Morrow, a spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the agency is currently conducting a study to find out how many of the rich-burn compressor engines are in each county.
“[The engines] are going to need to be retrofitted in order to comply with the new rules and these grants are going to help with the cost of that,” Morrow said.
Despite prolific activity associated with the Barnett Shale, the incentive to cooperate could be higher in East Texas where the state also offered 33 other counties the same retrofit reimbursement deal.
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) authored Senate Bill 2000, which freed up the funding. Eltife’s district managed to ward off non-attainment classification in 1997 when the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced additional eight-hour ozone standards. If East Texas counties remain in attainment, the region could avoid the same set of motor vehicle restrictions currently hinging on the next Metroplex air quality assessment.
“This legislation set up a grant program to help reduce emissions in our area on certain compressors in the oil field by over 96 percent,” Eltife said in a statement. “This is very important in helping us keep our area in attainment.”
In 1990, the EPA classified nine counties surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth as “moderate” ozone non-attainment, meaning those counties failed to meet national air quality standards. Since the original federal designation, Metroplex non-attainment areas have failed to achieve compliance by deadlines mandated in 1996 and 1999, and the EPA reclassified the region as “serious.” After an extension was granted in 1999, the pending DFW attainment date was set for November of this year.
Several important federal concessions are tied to an area’s EPA air quality attainment status, including transportation funding, but whether or not gas operators in the Dallas/Fort Worth area will choose to participate in the grant program remains to be seen.
The grant system was designed to serve as a partial reimbursement of costs associated with the installation of new NOx reduction systems. So far, retrofitting remains voluntary, emissions reductions must be verified in order to receive grant money and the state only provides a 75 percent reimbursement of capital costs.
And because much of local gas exploration is taking place near businesses and homes, some Barnett Shale drillers are already paying out of pocket to address noise and safety concerns.
Three local operators did not immediately respond to requests for interviews regarding the compressor engine grant program Friday.
See Weatherford-Democrat
gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com
State environmental officials announced $4 million in grants designed to help Texas natural gas producers limit harmful emission levels Friday.
Nine counties in the Dallas/Fort Worth air quality non-attainment area, including Parker, were identified in a group where “rich-burn” gas compressor engines are producing high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx).
“Rich-burn” engines run on natural gas and are usually located near individual gas wells or at extraction junctions. Though most produce less than 500 horsepower, official estimates indicate the engines emit 32 tons of NOx per day and contribute to the growing Metroplex air quality problem.
The engines are used for moving natural gas to market. Since mineral production levels in the Fort Worth Basin began their steady climb six years ago, an unknown number of compressors have been installed.
Andrea Morrow, a spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the agency is currently conducting a study to find out how many of the rich-burn compressor engines are in each county.
“[The engines] are going to need to be retrofitted in order to comply with the new rules and these grants are going to help with the cost of that,” Morrow said.
Despite prolific activity associated with the Barnett Shale, the incentive to cooperate could be higher in East Texas where the state also offered 33 other counties the same retrofit reimbursement deal.
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) authored Senate Bill 2000, which freed up the funding. Eltife’s district managed to ward off non-attainment classification in 1997 when the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced additional eight-hour ozone standards. If East Texas counties remain in attainment, the region could avoid the same set of motor vehicle restrictions currently hinging on the next Metroplex air quality assessment.
“This legislation set up a grant program to help reduce emissions in our area on certain compressors in the oil field by over 96 percent,” Eltife said in a statement. “This is very important in helping us keep our area in attainment.”
In 1990, the EPA classified nine counties surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth as “moderate” ozone non-attainment, meaning those counties failed to meet national air quality standards. Since the original federal designation, Metroplex non-attainment areas have failed to achieve compliance by deadlines mandated in 1996 and 1999, and the EPA reclassified the region as “serious.” After an extension was granted in 1999, the pending DFW attainment date was set for November of this year.
Several important federal concessions are tied to an area’s EPA air quality attainment status, including transportation funding, but whether or not gas operators in the Dallas/Fort Worth area will choose to participate in the grant program remains to be seen.
The grant system was designed to serve as a partial reimbursement of costs associated with the installation of new NOx reduction systems. So far, retrofitting remains voluntary, emissions reductions must be verified in order to receive grant money and the state only provides a 75 percent reimbursement of capital costs.
And because much of local gas exploration is taking place near businesses and homes, some Barnett Shale drillers are already paying out of pocket to address noise and safety concerns.
Three local operators did not immediately respond to requests for interviews regarding the compressor engine grant program Friday.
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