This is actually horrible news: Best Available Control Technology, BACT, does not work. Even with the BACT that is mandated in Wyoming, emissions from natural gas extraction and production activity has caused smog that is worse than in large cities like Los Angeles.
After this news came out last week, I contacted a friend who helped push the mandate for BACT use in Wyoming.
My question:
Can you tell me why Wyoming is having such bad smog issues even with the BACT? Are the emissions so bad that even with BACT we can still look forward to endless smog?
The answer:
Seems to be. There is little doubt the state and everyone else have been taking steps, even somewhat significant steps, to control emissions, but it has not been enough—I think the level of development is just overwhelming everything.
So, there you have it. Vapor Recovery Systems and the other BACT technologies won’t be enough.
Barnett Shale: Who decides who suffers?
Gas drilling in Wyoming causes smog worse than big cities
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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I'm not sure that you point is proven. What have they done about engine NOx emissions? Have all operators adopted all VOC-reductions methods across the board?
Even assuming controls aren't working 100% in Wyoming with weird wintertime ozone, you don't know if that failure is because of local conditions or if they'd fail anywhere else during more normal summer ozone conditions. Just sayin'.
I'm sure, as is typical with this type of mandate, some wells were grandfathered in. Since industry claims the drill rigs are a mobile source, they have not solved the NOx from the rigs.
What I know is what I posted on my blog per someone who is involved at the highest levels in WY. Since WY had the same problem last winter, it doesn't seem to be an anomaly.
Leaks occur at every stage of natural gas development so it is unlikely that we will solve the problem in it's entirety. Still, I would be happy to have BACT employed here because it is better than what we have now. But, we are already saturated so it must include existing sources.
The better choice would be developing clean, renewable sources of energy.