Tyler, Texas-based Mewbourne Oil Company has been fined $5.5 million by federal authorities for violating air pollution regulations at its fossil fuel facilities in the Permian Basin across New Mexico and West Texas, reports Adrian Hedden for the Carlsbad Current-Argus. In a nutshell:The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Mexico Environment Department uncovered air pollution violations in 2019 through inspections and document reviews. Mewbourne is required to invest $4.6 million to enhance over 400 oil and gas tank battery sites to prevent future emissions violations, resulting in an annual reduction of more than 11,000 tons of air pollution. The big picture:Pollution stemming from the operations of oil and gas companies has been linked to a range of concerning health impacts. Additionally, ground-level ozone formation resulting from pollution can exacerbate lung problems and pose serious threats to overall air quality, necessitating stringent measures to mitigate these health risks.

Source: Washington Post August 11, 2023 03:18 UTC