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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Oil And Gas Advisory Committee - 02/08/1993 • MINUTES Flz= gni' OIL AND GAS ADVISORY COMMITTEE '- FEBRUARY 8, 1993 CM.SpCpr OFF,'f, PRESENT: Andy Carson, Public Representative Hewitt Fox, Industry Representative Margaret Moss, Public Representative a Linda Newsom, Industry Representative Lee Barberito, Alternate Industry Representative James Conn, Petroleum Superintendent Alison Gallaway, Assistant City Attorney James Dodson, Regional Water Director Chairman Carson called the Oil and Gas Advisory Committee to order and asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of November 18, 1992 . On a motion by Ms. Moss, seconded by Ms . Newsom, the minutes were unanimously approved. Because late arrivals were anticipated, Chairman Carson rearranged the order of agenda items. Chairman Carson introduced James Dodson for a presentation. Mr. Dodson explained the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation program that encourages oil producers with Railroad Commission Tidal Disposal permits for Nueces Bay to voluntarily surrender their permits. He reported that two companies had complied with their requests. Mr. Dodson explained that the opposition to brine disposal was based on the Texas Water Commission ' s requirement that the City release fresh water into Nueces Bay, and that the Foundation believed the brine carried toxic elements. Ms. Newsom asked if it was correct that a curtailment of brine discharges would not guarantee that the City would be relieved of any of its requirement to make fresh water discharges . Mr. Dodson replied that this was correct but that it might influence the Water Commission favorably. Mr. Conn pointed out that the City Council had already passed a resolution asking the Railroad Commission to prohibit the brine discharges without soliciting the advice of this Committee, that this Committee had historically been used to develop compromises when industry interests conflicted with public interests, and that a recommendation from the Committee should be developed at this time. Mr. Dodson said the deadline for comments on a proposed Environmental Protection Agency ban on brine discharges would be March 15, 1993 and that he expected the City Council to pass a resolution encouraging the ban. Mr. Conn said much of the opposition pertained to brine from oil wells and that brine from natural gas wells had been exposed only to condensate and not crude oil . He suggested that since natural gas is currently an environmentally popular energy source, its associated brine production be exempted from disposal prohibitions . Mr. Fox and Mr. Carson agreed with this compromise suggestion provided the discharges were limited to a maximum of twenty-five barrels of water per day per well . Mr. Carson also SCANNED suggested an alternate compromise that would call for a complete ban that would take effect in eighteen months as opposed to the three year period being proposed by the EPA. Mr. Dodson said he supported this compromise. Mrs . Moss commented that a prohibition based on toxicity should be supported by tests that "=u proved a realistic harm to- the environment and not just traces of toxicity. Mr. Barberito concurred and said the oil industry should be required to promptly shut down brine disposal if proven realisticly harmful . He said independent tests of brine from wells he manages found it compatible with the surface water at its production location in the Laguna Madre but that they were not currently utilizing their permit for tidal disposal . Mr. Fox motioned that the City proceed to encourage voluntary surrendering of tidal disposal permits . Mrs. Moss seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Barberito made a motion that the City should not take any action without evidence of harmful toxicity or exchange for City mandated fresh water releases . Mr. Fox seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Fox also made a motion that Mr. Conn and Mr. Dodson work on comments to be suggested to the EPA regarding the produced waters and dehydration. Mrs. Moss seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Fox nominated Mr. Carson to continue as the Committee ' s President and volunteered to continue as the Vice-President. All were in favor and the nominations carried. There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 2 : 35 p.m.