Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Paleontological Resources
Impacts on paleontological resources during the operations phase would be lim-
ited primarily to unauthorized collection of fossils. This threat is present once the
access roads are constructed, making remote areas more accessible to the public.
Damage to localities caused by OHV use could also occur. The potential for indi-
rect impacts (e.g., vandalism, unauthorized collecting) would be greater during
the operations phase compared to the drilling/construction phase, due to its longer
duration.
Transportation
Impacts on transportation during the operations phase would be similar to those for
the drilling/construction phase. However, unless carbon dioxide is transported to the
site by truck or rail, daily traffic levels, particularly heavy truck traffic, would be
expected to be lower during the operations phase compared to the drilling/construc-
tion phase. For the most part, heavy truck traffic would be limited to periodic visits
to a well site for workovers and formation treatment. The use of pipelines to convey
carbon dioxide to the operating site would reduce the volume of traffic during the
operations phase. If a pipeline is not used for the injection well field, multiple truck-
loads per day would be needed.
Visual Resources
Once operating facilities are installed, portions of well pads, access roads, and pipe-
line rights-of-way (ROWs) that are not needed for operations would be reclaimed;
however, much of the disturbed area would continue to contrast with the natural
form, line, color, and texture of the surrounding landscape. This would impact undis-
turbed vistas and areas of solitude. The aboveground portions of an injection well
would be highly visible in rural or natural landscapes, many of which may have a
few other comparable structures. The artificial appearance of an injection well may
have visually incongruous “industrial” associations for some, particularly in a pre-
dominately natural landscape. Any nighttime lighting would be visible from long
distances. During the operations phase, indirect impacts on visual resources would
occur as a result of sequestration activities (e.g., industrial traffic, heavy equipment
use, dust); however, human activity would be substantially lower than during the
drilling/construction phase.
Socioeconomics
Direct socioeconomic impact would include the creation of new jobs and the associ-
ated royalties and taxes paid for carbon emission avoidance created by the seques-
tration project. Indirect impacts are those impacts that would occur as a result of
the new economic development and would include new jobs at businesses that sup-
port the expanded workforce or that provide project materials, and associated taxes.
Potential impacts on the value of residential properties located adjacent to an oil or
gas field would continue during this phase.
