Source: NGSA Natural gas is a clean burning fuel; its combustion emits fewer pollutants into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels. However, use of natural gas aside, the process of getting natural gas from underground to the end user has the potential for being environmentally destructive. Because of this, industry members have undertaken a number of initiatives, and invested in up to date technology that helps to mitigate the impact of natural gas production, transportation, and distribution. This section will discuss various programs and innovations that help to keep the environmental impact of the natural gas industry as small as possible, and provide links to relevant information regarding the natural gas industry and the environment.

The exploration and production of natural gas can have a significant impact on the environment. However, innovative technologies have lessened the effect that natural gas exploration and production have on the environment. The benefits of technology are threefold:

" Allow for More Efficient Natural Gas Recovery - More efficient exploration and extraction techniques lead to the need for fewer wells to produce the same amount of natural gas. Since drilling operations impact the environment both onshore and offshore, fewer wells mean less environmental degradation.
" Provide Cleaner Operations - Innovative, energy efficient drilling and production methods decrease the emissions of air pollutants including greenhouse gases, reduce leaks and spills both onshore and offshore, protect ground water from contamination, and reduce the risk of blowouts.
" Allow for Smaller Drilling Footprints - New drilling technologies allow for the use of smaller drilling rigs, and decrease the surface impact of drilling for natural gas. Directional and horizontal drilling allow for less surface impact as a greater number of wells may be drilled from a single location, and drilling rig placement is more flexible.

Many specific technologies allow the natural gas industry to obtain more natural gas per well drilled, and lessen the impact on the environment from drilling. New processing technologies allow for fewer emissions and less risk of leaks and spills which may also adversely affect the environment. The Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy has a report available entitled 'Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Technology', which is an excellent source for learning about industry advancements and the environmental benefits of increased technology in the natural gas industry. This report is available online on the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy website.

To learn more about the environmental effects of offshore drilling, visit www.offshore-environment.com

Source: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Environmental Programs

Members of the natural gas industry have a commitment to ensuring that their operations are environmentally sound, and that every effort is being made to ensure that the environmental impacts of activities related to the production of natural gas are as minimal as possible. According to the Department of Energy, the petroleum industry spent an estimated $187 million on environmental departments and voluntary programs in 1996. Part of this commitment includes participating in voluntary industry programs aimed at maintaining the best possible environmental record for the natural gas industry. These programs include:

• The EPA Natural Gas STAR Program - This program, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, is intended to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Over 70 exploration, production, transmission, and distribution companies are involved, with the goal of identifying industry best management practices to reduce methane emissions. To learn more about the natural gas STAR program, visit the EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/.
  

A Soon to be Artificial Reef

Source: MMS

• The MMS Rigs-to-Reefs Program - This program, sponsored by the Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service, involves converting old offshore oil and gas drilling rigs into artificial reefs that serve to support and improve the marine environment. This avoids the need to dispose of defunct drilling rigs on land, as well as providing the environmental benefits of an artificial reef. To learn more about the Rigs-To-Reefs program, visit the Minerals Management Service here.
  
  
• The API STEP Program - The American Petroleum Institute (LINK - www.api.org) runs a program called STEP (Strategies for Today's Environmental Partnerships). This program serves to encourage petroleum industry members to commit to environmental stewardship in their policies and principles, and develop programs to ensure safe, environmentally sound operating practices. For more information on API's STEP Program, visit the program's main page at www.api.org/step/.
  
  
• Safety and Environmental Management Program (SEMP) - SEMP is a voluntary program aimed at reducing the risks of accidents, including oil spills, around the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. This program was developed by the Minerals Management Service, along with industry participation, to provide a non-regulatory framework to encourage safety and environmental protection of the OCS. To learn more about SEMP, visit the MMS at www.mms.gov/semp/.

In addition to the above mentioned programs, the U.S. natural gas industry is actively involved in international programs that serve to share 'best practices' with respect to environmental preservation. Usually, this is accomplished through affiliation with an association dealing with significant environmental matters. Associations include the European Exploration and Production Forum, the Western Hemisphere Oil and Gas Environmental Forum, the International Association of Geophysical Contractors, and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association .

Environmental Regulations and Oversight

In addition to industry participation in maintaining a healthy environment, the federal government has enacted a number of pieces of legislation to ensure the natural environment is preserved and maintained into the future. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary federal government agency charged with protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment. The EPA was created in July of 1970, prior to which time there was no federal agency or body responsible for leading a coordinated effort to protect the environment. The EPA develops and enforces environmental regulations that exist under environmental laws in the U.S., as well as leading a number of voluntary and educational programs intended to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

To view a list of the major environmental laws under which EPA acts, as well as information on the most current proposed and pending legislation, select 'Laws and Regulations' on the EPA home page.

To learn more about federal government oversight of the natural gas industry, click here.