Energy Tomorrow Blog
U.S. Pipeline Needs Dealt a Setback by NWP 12 Ruling
pipelines permitting environmental impact
Mark Green
Posted May 12, 2020
Americans everywhere should be concerned about a federal judge’s decision in Montana that could significantly delay the safe and timely construction of new natural gas and oil pipelines across the country.
In a ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris excluded only the “construction of new oil and gas pipelines” from the Nationwide Permit 12 program (NWP 12). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses NWP 12 to authorize a number of utility/infrastructure construction and maintenance projects crossing certain streams and wetlands where there is minimal effect on the environment. …
Nationwide Permits are used for projects deemed necessary for the public interest and that have minimal adverse environmental impacts. To prohibit new natural gas and oil projects from utilizing NWP 12 is arbitrary and actually could make it harder to protect the environment.
What’s the Hold Up? On Key Infrastructure, Too Often It’s NEPA
infrastructure environmental review environmental impact statements
Mark Green
Posted January 30, 2020
Further down in this post take a look at just a few of the important U.S. infrastructure projects that have been held up by the review processes directed by the current National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
As noted in Sam Winstel’s post earlier this month, NEPA reform proposals recently offered by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are sorely needed. Some of the projects below are not just years on hold, but decades. And NEPA affects all kinds of infrastructure development, not just our industry’s projects. House Democrats, who just unveiled a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure proposal this week, should take note.
CEQ proposals would improve NEPA permitting and approval processes on energy and other vital infrastructure projects while still ensuring the appropriate environmental assessments and protections are undertaken.
Enhanced Safety Standard Helps Protect Workers, Environment
api standards program workplace safety environmental impact
Mark Green
Posted February 20, 2019
Over API’s 100-year history – we complete our first century next month – we’ve created more than 700 standards to enhance the safety, efficiency and sustainability of natural gas and oil operations. The newest of these updates Recommended Practice 54 (RP 54), which sets procedures to advance and maintain a safe and healthy work environment in drilling and well servicing operations.
Specifically, the new edition of RP 54 (first developed in 1981) includes a section on flowback operations, which is important for safe well testing. It also includes revised requirements for process hazard assessment for facilities and sites and introduces formal risk assessments and expanded provisions for offshore operations.
The World Should Follow the U.S. Energy Model
emission reductions us energy natural gas climate environmental impact
Jessica Lutz
Posted December 7, 2018
Bolstered by natural gas and innovation, the U.S. has proven that you can reduce emissions without sacrificing affordable energy. We have a road map to success, and we have forged a path for others to follow. As world leaders meet this week in search of a plan, we offer our experiences as a way for us all to build on this progress.
The Natural Gas and Oil Climate Opportunity
natural gas environmental impact climate emission reductions
Mark Green
Posted December 5, 2018
The recent National Climate Assessment – projecting significant impacts to the country and the economy in the absence of more measures to address climate change – has garnered a good deal of attention, as well it should. The report raises a number of important questions for the national climate conversation, leading to a consensus path forward for the United States.
While we don’t know all the ways our country may address climate in the years ahead, we must define meaningful progress as taking action and producing results – both of which our industry has been doing and will continue to do.Knowledge is Power and Protection
conservation environmental impact social-license-to-operate oil and natural gas
Kate Lowery
Posted January 10, 2018
Protecting wildlife and preserving habitats near industry operations is a big priority for our companies. It takes study and resources, but both objectives are well worth the investment. As members of our communities, we want to see wildlife and their homes sustained for generations to come.
API’s New D.C. Home To Be Innovative, Self-Sustaining
american petroleum institute environmental impact innovation technology
Mark Green
Posted October 3, 2017
API is on the move. Reflecting the advanced technologies that natural gas and oil bring to energy production and our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint, the industry’s leading national trade association plans to move next year to a new, self-sustaining LEED Platinum-certified building in downtown Washington, D.C., that will include a number of innovative features.
The Social License: We’re In This Together
community Environment and Safety environmental impact Safety hurricane-harvey hurricane-irma hurricane response social-license-to-operate
Kate Lowery
Posted September 27, 2017
Our industry’s “social license to operate” – the broader public’s confidence that our companies’ work, operations and products serve society’s greater good – is based on a number of things, none more important this this:
These are our communities – where we work, live, play, learn and grow. We’re your neighbors. Our children go to school with your children. Our employees and their families care about where they work and live. Those are important reasons why safety, protecting the environment and public health, and giving back to communities are some of industry’s top priorities. All help sustain industry’s compact with other Americans to bring them energy in as safe and responsible a manner as possible.
100 Days: Industry is Committed to Environmental Protection
100-days air pollutants carbon capture environmental impact methane emissions natural gas ozone
Mark Green
Posted April 24, 2017
Energy, Science and Public Health
public health environmental impact safe operations
Uni Blake
Posted April 13, 2017
Public health is a sensitive topic and understandably so. Clean air and water is important to everyone, which is why our industry has put together an effective suite of standards and best practices designed to foster safe and responsible development of our nation’s oil and natural gas resources. Protecting public health in areas where our companies have active oil and natural gas operations is significant for another reason: Many of our employees live in those areas.