Centner Terence J, Petetin Ludivine
313 Conner Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Wilberforce Building, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
J Environ Manage. 2015 Nov 1;163:174-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.08.019. Epub 2015 Aug 28.
The development of shale gas resources in the United States has been controversial as governments have been tardy in devising sufficient safeguards to protect both people and the environment. Alleged health and environmental damages suggest that other countries around the world that decide to develop their shale gas resources can learn from these problems and take further actions to prevent situations resulting in the release of harmful pollutants. Looking at U.S. federal regulations governing large animal operations under the permitting provisions of the Clean Water Act, the idea of a permitting program is proposed to respond to the risks of pollution by shale gas development activities. Governments can require permits before allowing the drilling of a new gas well. Each permit would include fluids and air emissions reduction plans containing best management practices to minimize risks and releases of pollutants. The public availability of permits and permit applications, as occurs for water pollution under various U.S. permitting programs, would assist governments in protecting public health. The permitting proposals provide governments a means for providing further assurances that shale gas development projects will not adversely affect people and the environment.
美国页岩气资源的开发一直存在争议，因为政府在制定足够的保障措施以保护人类和环境方面行动迟缓。所谓的健康和环境损害表明，世界上其他决定开发其页岩气资源的国家可以从这些问题中吸取教训，并采取进一步行动，以防止出现导致有害污染物释放的情况。审视美国根据《清洁水法》的许可条款对大型动物养殖作业进行管理的联邦法规，有人提出了一个许可计划的构想，以应对页岩气开发活动造成污染的风险。政府可以在允许钻新气井之前要求获得许可。每份许可将包括减少液体和空气排放的计划，其中包含最佳管理实践，以尽量减少污染物的风险和排放。正如美国各种许可计划下对水污染的处理那样，许可和许可申请的公开可得性将有助于政府保护公众健康。这些许可提议为政府提供了一种手段，以进一步确保页岩气开发项目不会对人类和环境产生不利影响。
