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CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
Onshore oil and gas exploration in the northern Rocky Mountain area: an examination of the federal environmental management program
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
08/1985
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007351
Abstract
Onshore oil and gas operations have been a part of the Rocky Mountain lifestyle for more than 50 years. Prior to national concerns involving impending energy shortages, the various procedures involved in the exploration for oil and gas were relatively obscure. Similarly, before the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), environmental concerns related to exploration for oil and gas were nil. The federal program which offers environmental protection guidelines to the petroleum industry evolved from NEPA. TO date, the program is not extremely effective and after more than 15 years has remained entrenched in procedure.
An examination of the past and current environmental, legal/regulatory, and geologic aspects of oil and gas exploration indicates clearly that the management process must continue to evolve. Not only is there a need to establish procedures which allow adherence to statutory and regulatory aspects, but there is a pressing need for federal agencies to adopt a multifaceted management program which addresses economic and environmental issues early on. It is also evident that management of the environment must begin before the lands are leased for exploration, not after the decision making process has been completed. Alternate management options do exist and should be applied early on for the federal program to be truly worthwhile.
It is apparent that exploration for oil and gas will continue to expand into geographical areas previously unaffected. That expansion will not be limited to federal lands, but will involve state lands as well. Before encroachment from oil and gas operations becomes imminent, states should establish an environmental management program which includes the evaluation of potential impacts before leasing and requires more than mere procedural adherence from the industry.
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Details
- Title
- Onshore oil and gas exploration in the northern Rocky Mountain area
- Creators
- David James Farrel
- Contributors
- ELDON H FRANZ (Chair)Oden P. Matthews (Committee Member)G. D. Webster (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- School of the Environment (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 148
- Identifiers
- 99901225854101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis