Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Visual Resources
During the drilling/construction phase, impacts on visual resources would occur as a
result of the addition of well pads, pipelines, access roads, and other facilities which
would result in an industrial landscape throughout the project area. Additional com-
ponents that would adversely affect the visual character of the landscape are pumping
units, compressor stations, aggregate borrow areas, equipment storage areas, and, if
needed, worker housing units and airstrips. Project facilities would introduce new
elements of form, line, color, and texture into the landscape, which would dominate
foreground views. In some instances, the facilities would also be visible from greater
distances and could, occasionally, dominate the view. Vehicles and the dust they gen-
erate would also contribute to visual impacts. Because drilling activities typically
take place 24 hours per day, visual impacts would include lighting of drill rigs during
nighttime hours. Nighttime lighting on drill rigs would be visible from long distances.
Socioeconomics
Drilling/construction phase activities would contribute to the local economy by pro-
viding employment opportunities, monies to local contractors, and recycled revenues
through the local economy. Additional revenues could be generated in the form of
carbon avoidance-type emission credits sold by the sequestration facility operator in
a commodity market. Taxes collected by federal, state, and local governments could
also be involved for transportation, injection, and regulation of the sequestration
project. Indirect impacts could occur as a result of the new economic development
(e.g., new jobs at businesses that support the expanded workforce or that provide proj-
ect materials). Depending on the source of the workforce, local increases in popula-
tion could occur. Development of an injection well field also could potentially affect
property values, either positively from increased employment effects or negatively
from proximity to the field and any associated or perceived adverse environmental
effects (e.g., noise of compressor stations, visual effects, air quality). Some economic
losses could occur if recreationists (including hunters and fishermen) avoid the area.
Increased growth of the transient population could contribute to increased criminal
activities in the project area (e.g., robberies, drugs).
Environmental Justice
If significant impacts were to occur in any of the resource areas and these were to dis-
proportionately affect minority or low-income populations, there could be an envi-
ronmental justice impact. It is anticipated that the drilling/construction phase could
benefit low-income, minority, and tribal populations by creating job opportunities
and stimulating local economic growth via project revenues and increased tourism.
However, noise, dust, visual impacts, and habitat destruction could have an adverse
effect on traditional tribal life ways and religious and cultural sites. Development of
wells and ancillary facilities could affect the natural character of previously undis-
turbed areas and transform the landscape into a more industrialized setting. Drilling
and construction activities could impact the use of cultural sites for traditional tribal
activities (hunting and plant-gathering activities and areas in which artifacts, rock
art, or other significant cultural sites are located).
