The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) recently released reports for 124 facilities inspected in the New Mexico Permian Basin area in April. Fourteen EPA inspectors and five NMED inspectors participated in these joint inspections, finding that 75 of the facilities—60 percent—had emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and could face penalties and other enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act (CAA). VOCs contribute to ozone formation, which can lead to health issues such as asthma, lung infections, bronchitis, and cancer.
"All companies must comply with the Clean Air Act, including those in the Permian Basin that are contributing to the energy needs of our country," said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. "These large-scale inspections demonstrate EPA’s commitment to preventing VOC and methane emissions in the Permian Basin."
"The results of our federal and state oil and gas investigations are cause for alarm, with a meager 40% compliance rate," Environment Department Cabinet Secretary James Kenney stated. "With the impacts of climate change ravaging our state and air quality degrading, we have no choice but to increase sanctions on polluters until we see a commitment to change behavior."
The inspections covered eight companies with multiple facilities in the New Mexico Permian Basin area: XTO Energy, Inc., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Permian Resources, Earthstone Energy, Inc., Tap Rock, Marathon, Franklin Mountain Energy, Inc., and Kaiser Francis Oil Company. Additionally, 112 of these facilities are located in communities with environmental justice concerns due to higher levels of pollution exposure such as ozone.
For more information on these specific inspections, please view the New Mexico enforcement webpage. For more information about EPA’s enforcement program and how it addresses pollution problems please visit the agency’s enforcement website.
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