Texas Unveils Fracking Country Air Monitor Set to Track Pollution

Karnes County and surrounding districts welcomed exciting news this month with the announcement that an air monitor has been installed in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale formation. As the biggest oil and gas development on the planet, the sedimentary rock formation received over US$30 billion of developmental investment in 2013! Yet despite the immense value of what lies beneath the constant extraction of resources has left environmental specialists questioning the quality of the surrounding air.

If you’re not familiar with the environmental concerns surrounding fracking, you might enjoy reading Protecting Employee Health During Fracking or the Dangers of Fracking first.

A solution to rising concerns

Cue the installation of the region’s very first air monitor which is set to begin official operations after a series of calibration tests to determine its precision. The new device was commissioned by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) after its analysts voiced concern over a recent air quality review that measured hydrocarbon emissions in populated areas. Installation was fast-tracked by encouragement from local officials and government representatives, investigative reports and residents who were concerned about the quality of the air they inhale on a daily basis. Measuring in at 40 x 40 feet, the monitor resembles a large cargo trailer equipped with towering antennas. It’s housed in the grounds of the Karnes County courthouse which is situated in the heart of Karnes City.

Pressure for legislation reviews

While it is a step forward for Texas environmentalists are still concerned that high readings of chemicals may not trigger legislative concern. This is because unlike most other states, official Texan air quality guidelines allow higher levels of certain substances. As well as improving ambient air quality data from the monitor will also be used to establish whether or not it’s time for Texas to review its current policies on emissions from the oil and gas industry.

Cutting edge technology

Coming with a price tag of US$122,000, the monitor is fitted with three state-of-the-art instruments designed to measure the presence of certain chemicals and pollutants. Every hour the trio record ambient air samples and analyse them for 46 volatile organic compounds, as well as traces of hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. After the monitor’s accuracy has been confirmed TCEQ analysts will assess any negative health impacts of the ambient air quality. Long-term and short-term health risks will be calculated, as well as other public concerns such as odour. Once identified the TCEQ will use the data to track the source of the pollution and take action to stop the release of harmful chemicals and toxins into the air. This information will then be released to the public via the organisation’s website.

A broad perspective

While the oil and gas industry has been pegged as the major culprit TCEQ maintains that it’s also important to look at other sources such as exhaust fumes from vehicles. He also stresses that the presence of toxins doesn’t necessarily imply a direct health threat to the local population.  At the end of the day, the key purpose of the air monitor is to establish a neutral representation of ambient air quality and help the community make informed decisions based on what is found.

"The idea is to put the emissions into a context so people can make rational decisions rather than being alarmed," explains a TCEQ representative.