New Mexico and EPA Collaborate on Oil and Gas Inspections

Posted : February 15, 2024

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) together with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has recently embarked on a collaborative project aiming to conduct detailed inspections of oil and gas facilities in the region. This joint effort underscores the growing importance of health and environmental protection against potential hazards linked to chemical use, wastewater production, and overall carbon emissions in the oil and gas industry.
1. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are conducting joint inspections of oil and gas facilities in the region.
2. This collaborative project aims to safeguard health and environmental protections against potential dangers associated with chemical use, wastewater production, and carbon emissions from the industry.
3. Using modern technology, these inspections intend to monitor oil and gas companies operations, identifying any violations that jeopardize the environment or public safety.
4. Both NMED and EPA share a common goal of promoting sustainable practices within the oil and gas industry.
5. The task force conducts random checks, unannounced site visits, air quality tests, and waste disposal reviews as part of their inspection processes.
In 2018, the oil and gas sector in New Mexico reportedly released over 1 million metric tons of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.
These combined operations aim to monitor and regulate the operations of oil and gas companies in the region. Aided by cutting-edge technology, these inspections check for any violations that may pose a threat to the environment or public safety. Both the New Mexico Environment Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are driven by the common objective of ensuring sustainable practices within the oil and gas industry. This task force carries out random checks, unannounced site visits, air quality tests, and waste disposal reviews among other crucial inspection processes.