Thomas Reis’ Post

Don't let them get away with it: consultant companies for Oil and Gas fracking operations have falsified environmental clean up data for over 350 sites in Colorado's Weld county. Just last week, the state O&G regulators at ECMC disclosed that this has been going on for at least the last 3 years at wells that were supposed to be closed and remediated. The faked oil and water tests reported misleadingly low levels of barium, sodium, arsenic and benzene, pollutants that cause cancer. We have been fighting the dishonest, greedy fracking companies involved (Chevron, Civitas and Occidental Petroleum) for years because they drill in Colorado neighborhoods, endangering our lives and yet they continue to be granted more and more drilling permits for new wells. If the ECMC can't trust O&G consultants to submit truthful data and the public can't trust the ECMC to adequately police the O&G industry as a whole, then a new, independent, environmental testing division must be created. This costly and burdensome new state department should be wholly paid for by fees charged to the O&G companies when they apply for permits - and if this fee is too much for the petroleum industry, then they should not be doing business in Colorado.     Enough is enough!  We call on ECMC to create new rules that impose steep fines for data falsification and for ECMC and CDPHE to take over all future soil, water and air testing. In addition, we call for an investigation by Colorado's Attorney General and the application of civil /criminal penalties for the 350 violations already committed. Sign On Letter Here: https://lnkd.in/gSyxiNZr We are still waiting for important details about these longstanding violations including: where the spills and contamination occurred, which chemicals and toxins were released, whether groundwater was contaminated, and what (if any) cleanup has been done. We will keep you informed. This will not be tolerated! https://lnkd.in/gsEve-RY

𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙤 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙥 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙖𝙩 350 𝙊𝙞𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) is investigating falsified environmental test results submitted by consultants for the cleanup of about 350 oil and gas sites in Weld County between 2021 and mid-2024. The altered data included information about soil and groundwater contamination, including levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. Eagle Environmental Consulting, LLC and Tasman, Inc. allegedly falsified data submitted on behalf of companies, including Chevron, Oxy, and Civitas Resources. Operators voluntarily disclosed the issues, prompting ECMC to tighten safeguards, requiring detailed documentation and metadata in future submissions. 𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔: 1. ECMC confirmed no new risks to public health but continues to assess the scope of the falsifications. 2. Enforcement actions and potential criminal charges are under consideration. 3. Companies involved have launched internal investigations to reassess sites and audit processes. This scandal highlights the critical need for transparency and accountability in environmental reporting. How can the oil and gas industry strengthen safeguards to prevent such breaches in trust? #EnvironmentalCompliance #OilAndGas #Accountability #Regulation https://lnkd.in/gtpGMRvd

𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙨' 𝙏𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙐𝙣𝙥𝙡𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙊𝙞𝙡 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨 Texas faces a daunting environmental and fiscal challenge with nearly half a million unplugged oil wells, as highlighted in a recent report by Carbon Tracker. These derelict wells, contributing to air and soil pollution and undermining carbon reduction goals, pose a significant risk to the environment. The state, under the oversight of the Railroad Commission of Texas, has initiated robust measures to manage and plug these wells, supported by a mix of state and recently increased federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This law allocates $4.7 billion for plugging orphan wells across the U.S., aiming to significantly reduce methane emissions—a move that could have the impact of removing millions of cars from the road annually. Despite these efforts, the backlog of wells needing attention remains a critical issue, reflecting the complex legacy of over a century of intensive oil and gas extraction in Texas. The state's approach, prioritizing urgent cases, showcases a proactive stance in environmental management but also underscores the ongoing challenges in fully addressing the scale of the problem. #EnvironmentalManagement #Sustainability #TexasOil #MethaneEmissions #InfrastructureLaw #EnergySector https://lnkd.in/gACTTHUq

About 15% of New Mexico’s oil production is now under a joint federal/state consent decree with the Apache Corp, Mewbourne Oil Company, and Matador Production Company settlements. The New Mexico Environment Department has 80 open oil and gas industry air quality investigations given the compliance rate with state rules is 50%. #climatechange #ozone #oilandgas #environmentaljustice #enforcement #civillitigation

❗ 80 OPEN INVESTIGATIONS ❗ With a field office in Carlsbad, NM, OTA can assist operators with the regulatory and field aspects of these investigations. Should you need to replace or retrofit any existing equipment, we can help with that, too. Stay ahead of the curve - let us help ensure your assets are in compliance! #NewMexico #EnvironmentalCompliance #OilandGas #Regulations

The question of what to do with the vast quantities of toxic wastewater from oil and gas drilling in New Mexico is up for debate. https://loom.ly/YgMX8BE

🚨 **Recent Court Decisions Impacting the Oil & Gas Sector** 🚨 In a significant development, U.S. courts have intervened in oil and gas operations in Alaska and Wyoming, emphasizing the crucial role of environmental considerations in resource management. Here's what you need to know: 1. **Alaska's Cook Inlet Lease Sale Halted:** A federal court pointed out substantial flaws in the environmental analysis related to the Cook Inlet lease sale. Critical concerns included: - 🐳 Impact on beluga whales due to vessel noise. - 🌍 Cumulative environmental impacts not fully assessed. - 🔍 Lack of alternative leasing areas considered. 2. **Wyoming Lease Sales Blocked:** Nearly 68,000 acres of drilling in Wyoming are on pause after a judge ruled that the Bureau of Land Management didn't comply fully with the National Environmental Policy Act. This decision mandates a new, more comprehensive environmental review within the next 180 days. 👀 From a career spanning three decades in the oil and gas industry, I can say such judicial outcomes not only shape the operational landscape but also underscore the increasing legal and community scrutiny our projects may face. ### Engaging Questions & Actions: - What are your thoughts on balancing energy needs with environmental protections? - Have you encountered similar legal or environmental challenges in your projects? Share your experiences below! - Let’s discuss how we can enhance environmental stewardship in our industry practices. 🌏 Environmental sustainability is becoming non-negotiable in our industry. It's time for action and adaptation. ⚖️ #OilAndGas #EnvironmentalLaw #SustainableEnergy #IndustryStandards #EnergyTransition Looking forward to reading your insights and stories in the comments! 👇💡

Civitas Resources, a Denver-based oil and gas company financed and owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), wants to drill 166 new fracking wells that could cause earthquakes and contaminate water for millions of Coloradans. CPP Investments | Investissements RPC is the largest shareholder in Civitas, which makes the greenwashed claim that it's "Colorado's first carbon-neutral energy producer." Civitas Resources is proposing to develop a 166-well oil and gas project in suburban Denver that could imperil a decades-long, multimillion-dollar effort to prevent carcinogenic chemicals stored on one of the U.S.’s most contaminated industrial sites from leaking into groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is warning that Civitas’ fracking proposal could cause small cracks in bedrock cradling millions of gallons of toxic waste and allow contaminants to enter an aquifer system that millions of Coloradans rely on. “The EPA is concerned that hydraulic fracturing surrounding and underneath the site could lead to a significant unintended release of hazardous substances,” the agency wrote in May to Dan Harrington, who leads Civitas’ development initiatives. This “contamination is held in place by a bedrock layer which could, under certain conditions, be subject to microfractures from fracking.” Civitas’ proposed drilling near the Colorado Superfund site also raises new health and safety concerns that local residents say aren’t adequately addressed in state or local regulations. Increasingly, residents are demanding stricter rules about where fracking can take place and detailed studies that provide benchmarks for how much activity should be allowed.   “The county must insist on studies to understand the potential risks associated with fracking-induced seismicity on both the Lowry Landfill Superfund Site — and the Aurora Reservoir Dam,” wrote Kevin Lynch, an associate professor of law at the University of Denver Environmental Law Clinic.   “The EPA will need to monitor the Lowry Landfill Superfund Site for decades to come, and thoroughly monitor the impact of this and any proposed projects close to the site,” said the region’s congressman, Jason Crow. “There should be no question about the safety of Coloradans’ water.” #copolitics #cdnpoli #pensions #sustainablefinance #fracking #greenwashing

Complete visibility and fast reaction supported by continuous emissions monitoring.

Enforcement of fugitive methane emissions is really starting to intensify and affect operators (Example: Marathon over $240 million fine). If you are still in the "wait and see" OR "take the gamble" mindset, it's in your best interest to start at least having the conversation on how to effectively monitor your sites to avoid excessive fees and bad publicity. A consultation to find out what solutions would be a good fit for your sites is completely free, other than 30 minutes of your time and could be worth millions to your company. Whether its me or other solution providers, I strongly encourage considering continuous monitoring and the many benefits it provides.