Preparing for the Future – Energy

Boom

Luke Chavez Preparedness,

Assessment and Response

US EPA Region VIII303-312-6512

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

What is happening in energy production?

• Permits for oil and gas drilling have sky rocketed

• Nationwide boom in oil and gas production

What could this lead to?

• More potential spills/releases

• More potential accidents

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

A little about the Pavillion Groundwater Investigation

• Agricultural area

• Active gas field

• Domestic drinking water issues

• Complex investigation

• Political and controversial

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

What we learned from the Pavillion Investigation

• Need to educate ourselves with the production life-cycle

• Controversial

• Need to work with industry

• People Count

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

What does EPA Region 8 Plan to do?

•Educate ourselves (Responders, Preparedness Staff)

oDesign a curriculum

oDrilling processes

oProduction processes

oSafety issues

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

What else does EPA Reg 8 Plan to do?

•Work with and learn from other federal agencies (BLM, OSHA)

•Work with and learn from state agencies (OGCC, DEM, DEQ, Health)

•Work with, learn from and assist LEPC’s and tribes

• Work with and learn from industry (field personnel tend to haveextensive knowledge)

•Understand the potential issues/accidents/spills that could occur

Preparing for the Future – Energy Boom

QUESTIONS?

CONTACT INFORMATIONLuke Chavez

chavez.luke@epa.gov303-312-6512

PAVILLION GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATION INFORMATION

http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/wy/pavillion/