| BMP ID: |
6368 |
| Title: |
Treat waste products to the greatest extent possible when recycling is not feasible |
| Text: |
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: "Waste products that cannot reasonably be recycled or reused should be treated to the greatest extent possible to reduce the risk to the environment and human health. Although disposal is the least preferred option for dealing with toxic materialsâ€"due to the likelihood of residual pollutants causing future environmental or health risksâ€" when there is remaining waste, it should be disposed of safely." |
| Source Publication Name: |
Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production |
| Citation Section: |
Chapter 5 |
| Citation Page: |
28 |
| Supplemental Documents: |
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| Usage Type: |
Recommended |
| Timing: |
• Production / Operation / Maintenance
• Reclamation
|
| Oil / Gas Field: |
|
| Surface Ownership: |
• Federal
• State
• Private
|
| Mineral Ownership: |
• Federal
• State
• Private
|
| Primary Contact: |
Ms. Amy Mall
Natural Resources Defence Council |
| Phone: | |
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Alt. Phone: | |
| Fax: | |
|
E-mail: | |
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| Alternate Contact: |
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| |
| Categories: |
Water Quality and Pollution
Land Surface Disturbance
Air Quality and Emissions
|
| Location: |
General / Federal |
| Species: |
|
| Vegetation Types: |
|
| General Comments: |
|
| Cost-Benefit Analysis: |
Many methods to reduce or recycle toxic materials have
been documented to produce significant cost savings
after initial up-front costs. Some even help the industry
to recover more of their product and increase revenue.
A company in Alaska reusing drilling fluid reduced its
costs from $7 million to $3.25 million. [164] Devon Energy
spent $15,000 to capture methane emissions from a new
well, instead of venting those emissions into the air, and
sold the methane captured for $35,000. A Devon Energy
official said, “It’s a win-win for everybody.†BP tested an
air emissions control unit that cost $1.4 million but in two
years led to income of more than $1.6 million. [165] Another
company experienced annual savings of $272,000 and paid
off initial capital costs in less than four years after starting to reclaim crude oil from sludge. [166] |
| BMP Efficacy: |
|
| Date Entered: |
2010-03-15 13:41 UTC |
| Last Updated: |
2011-07-17 13:29 UTC |
