Fort Worth Releases Natural Gas Air Quality Study
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - The city of Fort Worth has released its long-awaited air quality report on Barnett Shale natural gas drilling operations.
The twice-delayed report says a number of sites had overall emission rates exceeding regulatory thresholds. The city-commissioned study reveals benzene and other relatively highly toxictypollutants are emitted from some well sites.
It also found malfunctioning equipment liked caused increased emissions. Five sites had overall emission rates exceeding regulatory thresholds.
The report contains a list of recommendations including vapor recovery units on storage tanks and using electric compressor engines to improve the air.
KRLD's Chuck Schechner Reports:
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Three of the city's 8 compressor stations exceeded permitted emission levels. The compressor stations act as pumping stations, running huge gas and diesel engines. The North Texas Council of Governments has previously asked the state to toughen regulations at the compressor sites.
Fort Worth Councilman Jungus Jordan says he welcomes the report, saying it can only lead to improvement. "When you know the facts you can do something about solutions. And that's where we are. We can solve this one. Fort Worth always does. The region always does. DFW always does. We'll find a solution."
The study did not find any significant health threats.
You can read the full report below:
