oil and gas fracking pollution
Credit: WildEarth Guardians/Flickr

Oil firm settles with US and New Mexico over pollution issues

A Texas-based oil company has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement to tackle air pollution in America's top oil-producing area, with measures aimed at reducing emissions.

Susan Montoya Bryan reports for the Associated Press.


In short:

  • Apache Corporation will pay $4 million in fines and invest more than $5 million in emission reduction at its Permian Basin operations.
  • The settlement addresses Apache's failure to capture and control emissions, with violations detected via advanced surveillance methods.
  • This effort is part of broader regulatory actions to enforce Clean Air Act compliance in the oil sector, signaling a significant push for environmental accountability.

Key quote:

“The ozone levels are rising, and you know, I think this is that moment where we have to hold up the mirror to industry and say, ‘If you don’t like what you see, it’s a reflection of your own effort.”

— James Kenney, New Mexico environment secretary

Why this matters:

This settlement is part of increased regulatory scrutiny on fossil fuel industry practices, aiming for a cleaner, healthier environment amidst rising ozone levels and greenhouse gas emissions. The harms from the fracking boom go well beyond cranking up global temperatures.

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