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.
Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed
South China's Beijiang River sees second flood this year
Georgia's president vetoes media legislation that has provoked weeks of protests
Poland invests $2.5 billion into fortifying border with Russia and Belarus
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Girls in Rio favela hope to play in 2027 Women's World Cup
Messi in starting lineup for Inter Miami's match against DC United
NASA to launch new mission to study polar regions' heat emissions
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
A man investigated in the deaths of women in northwest Oregon has been indicted in 3 killings