The vast majority of natural gas processing plants operated by Barnett Shale in Texas have been found to spew invisible, highly toxic chemicals when they are inspected. But regulators check for these emissions at only a slim fraction of the plants in the state, an investigation by The Dallas Morning News found.
More than 90 percent of the gas-processing plants, compressor stations and wells that agencies have examined with leak-detecting infrared cameras since 2007 were lofting otherwise invisible plumes of chemicals. In the most recent surveillance late last year, every facility checked was emitting pollution.
Among the chemicals emitted is the carcinogen benzene. One of the polluting plants is located near the University of Texas at Arlington; many are near homes, The News reports.
Since 2005, at least 13,000 natural gas wells and support facilities have popped up across Texas, but state and federal inspectors have aimed pollution-detecting infrared cameras at a tiny percentage of those locales. But the fact that inspectors have found leaks nearly every time they look suggests more comprehensive screening might reveal a much larger problem, The News reports.
