Program that Sacrifices Underground Drinking Waterfor Oil and Gas Injection Raises Questions
The aquifer exemption program in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Underground Injection Control (UIC) program allows certain oil and gas and mining activity to occur in groundwater that would otherwise be protected as a potential drinking water source.
There were plenty of signs before 2017 started that the year would be one wild ride. We braced for the worst and were surprised only by the ferocity and relentless pace of attacks on our water and health coming out of the Trump Administration and Congress. Yet, outside of the political sphere, Americans remain unified in their support of clean water. Almost without exception, a solid majority of people in all demographic groups, in all parts of the country, regardless of party affiliation, care about our water and want to see it protected, now and for future generations.
Since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 the United States has made great progress in cleaning up industrial chemicals and sewage pollution, but has failed to significantly reduce run-off of nutrient pollution into our nation’s rivers, lakes, and bays. Nutrient pollution refers to nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential life elements that have enabled agriculture production in the United States to thrive, but at a huge cost to water quality.
Oversight Failures in the Section 45Q Tax Credit for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Executive Summary
After decades of scientific analysis and international negotiations, reducing carbon emissions is now a global imperative. U.S. Congress, for its part, recognized the potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce emissions and provided a tax incentive for companies that capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from various industrial practices and store it underground.
CO2-EOR presents risks to groundwater, the surface environment, and the health of communities living near oil fields.
Americans should understand the goal of the oil and gas industry: drill, extract, and burn all the oil and gas resources it can acquire. The business plan is to burn it all.
Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is the most common oil recovery practice in the U.S., accounting for an estimated 60% of domestic crude oil production. EOR involves the injection of fluids underground to increase the flow of oil and gas to the surface. Despite its prevalence, EOR is largely unknown to the public, poses threats to groundwater, and lacks adequate oversight from state and federal regulators.
Open the Annual Report below and you’ll see great examples of what we’ve accomplished, thanks to your help.
Once again the SAB Panel deserves considerable praise for the way it has conducted the review of this “highly influential” document over these past several months.
The oil and gas industry, aided by the erosion of campaign finance laws and nearly boundless lobbying budgets, asserts enormous influence over legislative processes in real time while also enjoying legacy influence in regulatory frame- works. The results can be devastating to the health of the environment and the public.