A new report by the Texas Grassroots Network claims the state is home to some of the worst methane pollution and ozone smog in the country.
The report, entitled “Oil and Gas Pollution’s Impacts on Texas Families” charged Texas lacks meaningful standards for detecting and repairing leaks.
“Each day, oil and gas activities across the state spring leaks that spew toxic pollution into the air, like an invisible oil spill,” said the group in releasing its report. “By 2025, Texas is expected to be the worst place in America for children who suffer from asthma caused by pollution from oil and gas activities.”
The Network said the state relies on protection by the federal New Source Performance Standards finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency. The standards, according to the report, apply to 7,400 new and modified oil and gas wells out of the nearly 400,000 active wells in the state.
It was also critical of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for “attempting to suspend these common sense leak detection and repair requirements at the behest of the oil and gas lobby.”