Although production of oil and gas has stagnated across much of the country, communities across the West continue to feel the impacts, including toxic spills and air pollution. According to an analysis by E&E News, hundreds of oil and gas-related spills affected surface and groundwater sources throughout the country last year. Spills impacting water sources are more difficult to contain, as toxic pollutants can quickly travel downstream, impacting people and wildlife. While many states publish data from oil and gas-related spills, there is significant room for improvement in ensuring spills reporting is more detailed, uniform and transparent.
Each year oil and gas operators report thousands of spills containing crude oil, toxic chemicals, and wastewater containing salt, condensate, and sometimes radiation. Last year more than 10,300 spills were reported in 17 oil and gas producing states, an eight percent decline from 2014. Of those spills reported, 640 impacted water sources.
It is critical to note that many states have a long way to go when it comes to collecting data on oil and gas spills and making those records public. While states like Colorado require operators to report information on whether spills impacted water and how far the spill occurred from water sources, several states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania) do not collect data on spills, and others (North Dakota and Utah) do not ask operators whether water was impacted. According to data from Colorado, last year 189 spills, 31 percent of all spills reported, occurred within 1,000 feet of surface water.
It’s often said you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Going forward states and the oil and gas industries should increase efforts to track and report information on oil and gas-related spills, particularly those that impact water.
Photo: Williston, ND oil spill, 2015, Environmental Protection Agency