|
For nearly a week, gas has been leaking from a major drilling site in the Alaskan Arctic operated by ConocoPhillips. In response, the company has evacuated more than 300 nonessential personnel from the area, and some 20 families have left the nearby town of Nuiqsut, a village of just 500 people.
“Right now, there is a lot of fear in the community,” said Martha Itta, Nuiqsut’s former tribal administrator, who herself had fled the leak. “Community members are leaving on their own for their own safety at this time.”
The report of gas leaking from multiple wellheads comes as ConocoPhillips is seeking approval for a massive project nearby. Should it be approved, Conoco's proposed Willow Project would produce 160,000 barrels of oil a day for 30 years, effectively erasing the climate benefits gained from the Biden administration's efforts to increase renewable energy on public lands.
Jeremy Lieb, a senior associate attorney at Earthjustice noted the news “demonstrates that industry is still not able to operate safely in this environment. These projects pose a real threat to the people living nearby and a climate threat if you have a gas leak directly into the atmosphere.”
|
Too many New Mexico communities are experiencing the serious health impacts of oil and gas pollution. Spills, leaks, venting and flaring are taking a toll on all New Mexicans’ air, water and health, but rural communities, tribal communities, children and the elderly are especially at risk. In fact, almost half of all Native Americans in San Juan County — about 22,000 people — live within a half-mile of a well site.”
