Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Health Department's poor choice put on display

Health Department's poor choice put on display

Nov 29, 2008 - 04:06:18 CST

By ANTHONY FLADELAND
Bismarck

I was amazed by the Nov. 18 Associated Press article, "N.D. OKs spraying roads with oil wastewater," though I didn't read it in The Bismarck Tribune, where it was the lead front-page article. I first read it on CBSNews.com, and a quick Internet search returned the same AP article picked up by news agencies everywhere. The article exposed to perhaps millions of readers the questionable practices and judgment of the North Dakota State Health Department.

This oil-field wastewater is known in the oil and gas industry as "produced water." Oil companies all over the world have long been dealing with the issue of produced water treatment and disposal, water that contains combinations of dissolved inorganic salts, oil droplets, dissolved organic compounds, chemical additives, treatment chemicals, dissolved gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, bacteria, and other living organisms. According to the Produced Water Society, an organization of engineers and industry professionals, "the treatment of produced water is a major component of the cost of producing oil and gas. Wells may start out producing little water, but sooner or later all oil wells produce a much larger volume of water than oil. The ability to efficiently and economically dispose of this water is critical to the success in the oil production business."

The Health Department has offered the oil industry in North Dakota a way out of this economic burden, legitimizing a questionable practice in place in our state since the 1960s. Instead of treating or properly disposing of the produced water, the oil companies in North Dakota are allowed to generously donate their toxic wastewater to the state for use on our public roads.

Regardless of whether of not the produced water that the state has been pouring on our roads for over 40 years is safe, the North Dakota Industrial Commission or the Health Department should commission an independent scientific study of the produced water being used to further assure the public that this practice isn't nearly as stupid as it sounds. If the study confirms or contradicts what the Health Department has concluded, hopefully it can get as much press coverage as the AP's article.

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Comments

Esther wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:52 PM:

" I agree with Annika's idea of renaming the health department to "Corporate Profit Protection Agency". It seems the agency agenda is not one of public health. When any practice is questionable to the health of ND citizens there should be studies conducted BEFORE death or disease prompts research. "

Annika wrote on Dec 1, 2008 12:35 PM:

" Thanks to Anthony Fladeland for stepping forward to highlight this latest instance of the ND "Health" Department's dereliction of duty to, um, the health of the citizens. Whether it's cynically defying even the wimpy EPA to increase allowable limits for sulfur dioxide pollution, or granting water pollution-discharge permits willy-nilly, or dumping oil-drilling garbage on public roadways, this bureaucracy functions like anything but a health-protecting agency. It should be renamed the "Corporate Profit Protection Agency." And, yes, citizens should demand changes. "

Economic Conservative wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:37 AM:

" These decisions are a direct result of using political appointments to state agencies as rewards for party loyalty. Until ND passes legislation that insures unqualified people aren't given cushy state jobs for favors rendered, this kind of insanity will continue. When will we wake up and move into at least the 20thCentury instead of the dark ages? "

Dakotan wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:53 AM:

" To 'agreed': Let's hear some facts to support your statement. Only the facts, sir. Only the facts. More vilification of the oil industry on your part. "

Dakotan wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:48 AM:

" The writer makes it sound like all oil companies operating oil wells in ND are getting rid of their wastewater in this manner. Nothing could be farther from the truth. People who write letters to the Tribune should try to refrain from using generalizations and be more specific. I would like to know how much waste water is being used each winter and in what counties is this happening.
I remember last year when this subject was first brought up that the some of the online comments were quite hysterical - five-legged frogs, three-headed ducks, six-headed humans, etc. (well not quite, but it sure sounds apropos)
I have great faith that our health dept. has investigated the subject and we will all be just fine.
And as for 'the oil companies'............demonized again, folks. "

sam wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:18 AM:

" does this really surprise you? ND is always doing what it wants and are totally oblivious to the rest of the Nation-they think that they are their own country with their own rules-not a surprise at all "

Climber wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:16 AM:

" This was a short-sighted decision. We'll all look back on this someday and ask 'What in the world were they thinking?" Of course, it will be too late at that point. "

agreed wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:01 AM:

" I agree. For too long, the State Health Department has been putting energy industry needs first, and the public health second. It's time the N.D. Department of Health actually lives up to its name. It's supposed to be about health. "

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