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Use of Infrared
Technology by EPA Raises Issue of Trust in the United States Senate
Rocky Mountain News (RMN),
June 20, 2006. An EPA Region 8 "tour" of oil and gas
facilities near Denver with a pollution-detecting infrared camera.
Richard Long, head of air programs for the Denver regional office
emphasized that their emissions findings do not mean they are illegal, or
that this informal tour was a step towards formal enforcement action.
He did, however, state that the large number of "minor sources"
such as those identified by the infrared camera are "what we need to
get a handle on." Click here
for the full article.
On July 18th,
Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Committee on Environment
and Public Works responded in writing to EPA's Region 8 Administrator,
with a request for response by July 26th. Senator Inhofe cites the
importance of "trust between the regulator and the regulated
community" and questions the activities specifically reported in the
RMN article. The questions include the following:
- If
privately owned land or facilities were scanned using EPA's infrared
camera, was written permission from the owners obtained? If not,
please explain why.
- Does
the camera chemically identify the emissions viewed?
- Under
what authority was Region 8 conducting an "unofficial"
search?
- How
did Region 8 ensure the privacy rights of the subjects who were
searched?
- Provide
a detailed explanation of what was meant that the EPA must "get a
handle on," and identify the authority that the Agency would be
asserting.
- Explain
how unofficial searches of privately owned facilities, with and
without notice to owners and operators, affect Region 8's ability to
establish a foundation of trust with the oil and gas industry, state
governments, and private citizens.
Click here
for a copy of the Inhofe letter.
ILTA invites all members
to notify us of any actions taken by the LA DEQ or TCEP or other
state agencies relating to the use of infrared cameras for emissions
monitoring which may be construed as inappropriate. This could
include exceeding agency authority, straying from a grounding in
science, or a violation of trust between regulators and the
regulated community.
ILTA will provide an
update with the Region 8 response to Senator Inhofe’s letter once it
becomes available.
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