New Mexico reaches record settlement over natural gas flaring in the Permian Basin
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has reached a record settlement with a Texas-based company over air pollution violations at natural gas gathering sites in the Permian Basin.
The $24.5 million agreement with Ameredev announced Monday is the largest settlement the state Environment Department has ever reached for a civil oil and gas violation. It stems from the flaring of billions of cubic feet of natural gas that the company had extracted over an 18-month period but wasn’t able to transport to downstream processors.
Environment Secretary James Kenney said in an interview that the flared gas would have been enough to have supplied nearly 17,000 homes for a year.
“It’s completely the opposite of the way it’s supposed to work,” Kenney said. “Had they not wasted New Mexico’s resources, they could have put that gas to use.”
The flaring, or burning off of the gas, resulted in more than 7.6 million pounds of excess emissions that included hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other gases that state regulators said are known to cause respiratory issues and contribute to climate change.
Related articles
Amal Clooney played key role in ICC bid to request arrest warrants for Israeli PM and Hamas leader
Amal Clooney played a key role in the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warran2024-05-21Interest rates and RRR may see cuts
China may need additional monetary easing measures such as cutting interest rates or the reserve req2024-05-21Chinese publishers stage Doha Int'l Book Fair
People select books at the opening day of the 33rd Doha International Book Fair in Doha, Qatar, May2024-05-21Young people work to preserve precious past
The Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi province, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a histo2024-05-21US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease2024-05-21Israel intensifies offensive in Gaza, strikes 120 sites: army
People prepare to leave a shelter in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 6, 2024. [Photo/X2024-05-21
atest comment