January – February 2020, Volume 48, Number 1
Late last year, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) told Powder River that they would not be approving Aethon’s permit to discharge over 8 million gallons of polluted oil and gas wastewater a day. DEQ noted that concerns raised by citizens in writing and at public hearings played a part in their decision. A critical issue was also the fact that Aethon’s treatment plant had not been functional for months and would not be able to handle treating the huge increase of polluted wastewater.
The scientists hired by Powder River and our allies to review and comment on the proposed permit were also a determining factor for DEQ. Those scientists raised concerns with the discharge permit and questioned the modeling by Aethon. The conclusion was that the permit was not protective of water quality for livestock, wildlife, or aquatic life.
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