Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 9, 2015 12:24 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Stephen McCarter |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation Mandating Air Quality Monitoring Systems Near Natural Gas Operations |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that would mandate that air quality monitoring systems be placed near all natural gas compressor stations, processor stations, and water impoundments. Under this legislation, air quality monitoring systems would be required at all current and future sites. In addition, natural gas operators would be required to install and maintain monitoring systems at their own expense. Further, this legislation would require that all air quality levels recorded by monitoring systems be made publicly accessible through a real-time display posted on the Internet. A study recently published in the journal, Environmental Health, found that dangerous levels of air toxins are present near natural gas drilling operations. Specifically, the carcinogens formaldehyde and benzene, however numerous other toxins were detected at alarmingly high levels. According to the report’s authors, formaldehyde is formed in two ways, through combustion at compressor stations or as a byproduct of methane gas leakage when methane is exposed to sunlight. I believe that requiring air quality monitoring systems to be placed near compressor stations, processor stations, and water impoundments would hold natural gas operators to a higher standard and ensure that air quality is safe for residents living nearby. |
Memo Updated: January 9, 2015 12:25 PM