Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
During the operations phase, scale and sludge wastes can accumulate inside pipe-
lines and storage vessels. They must be removed periodically from the equipment
for disposal. These wastes may be transported to offsite disposal facilities. In some
instances, they may be disposed of via landspreading, a practice that entails spread-
ing the wastes over the surface of the disposal area and mixing it with the top few
inches of soil.
IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY
The potential impacts on human health and safety resulting from exploration activi-
ties could include occupational accidents and injuries, vehicle or aircraft accidents,
exposure to weather extremes, wildlife encounters, trips and falls on uneven terrain,
adverse health effects from dust generation and emissions, and contact with hazard-
ous materials (e.g., from spills). The potential for these impacts to occur would be
low due to the limited range of activities and small number of workers required dur-
ing exploration.
Potential impacts on worker and public health and safety during the drilling phase
would be similar to other projects that involve earth moving, use of large equipment,
transportation of overweight and oversized materials, and construction and instal-
lation of industrial facilities. In particular, the risks would be very similar to those
associated with oil and gas drilling activities. Statistical data on occupational acci-
dents and fatalities for the oil and gas extraction labor category are available from
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2005, the oil and gas industry experienced
a nationwide rate of 2.1 accidents per 100 full-time workers and 25.6 fatalities per
100,000 workers. The potential for occupational accidents and mortality would be
highest during peak drilling periods. Drilling and construction activities also pres-
ent the potential for well fires or explosions. Well blowouts are rare, but are typically
caused by unsafe work practices and can be extremely dangerous (e.g., they can
destroy rigs and kill nearby workers). If natural gas is in the blowout materials, the
fluid may ignite from an engine spark or other source of flame. Blowouts may take
days to months to cap and control. Also, increased human activity and increased pub-
lic access could result in a higher potential for wildfires in the project area. Workers
could also be exposed to air pollutants and could have body contact with product or
other chemicals. Reckless driving by workers would also create safety hazards. In
addition, health and safety issues include working in potential weather extremes and
possible contact with natural hazards, such as uneven terrain and dangerous plants,
animals, or insects.
Possible impacts on health and safety while operating an injection field include
accidental injury or death to workers and, to a lesser extent, the public (e.g., from
OHV collisions with project components, vehicle collisions with workers). Health
impacts could result from water contamination, dust and other air emissions, noise,
soil contamination, and stress (e.g., associated with living near an industrial zone).
Potential fires and explosions would cause safety hazards. In addition, health and
safety issues include working in potential weather extremes and possible contact with
natural hazards, such as uneven terrain and dangerous plants, animals, or insects.
