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.
Autistic schoolgirl, 16, took her own life at £44,000
Draft judicial explanation on marriage released for public review
Chinese scientists use machine learning for precise Antarctic sea ice prediction
Shen Addresses via Video Link at Fourth SCO Women's Forum
Chinese enterprises keen to expand int'l market: Trade council
China Making Great Strides in Women's Cause
ACWF Holds a Series of Activities to Promote Good Family Traditions of the Revolutionaries
Shen Meets ACWF's Executive Committee Members, Specially Invited Delegates from Hong Kong, Macao
UN Chinese Language Day celebrated in Tunisia