Posts by Charlie Barrett
Enforcement Capacity in NM’s Permian Basin: A Legislative Tour with NM Lawmakers
Senator Pope, candidate for LT. Governor. Senator Sedilo Lopez. Rep Debra Sarinana. Oil Conservation Director Albert Chang, Albuquerque Councilwoman Tammy Fiebelkorn, and staff from Oilfield Witness and Elected Officials to Protect America. Oilfield Witness recently hosted New Mexico lawmakers for a field tour through the Permian Basin, giving them a hands-on look at how…
Read MoreEnvironmental Concerns and Pollution Monitoring Along the Tulsa Area Arkansas River
“The absence of data isn’t the same as absence of risk.” Tulsa, Oklahoma has a strong connection with the oil and gas industry. The city established itself as an important hub for oil investments and production in the early 1900’s. Tulsa earned the title as “oil capital of the world” in 1905, before it was…
Read MoreNot Just a Bright Idea: The Mixed Motives of Light Pollution Reduction in Oil and Gas Operations
New Mexico oil producer Franklin Mountain Energy was recently recognized for reducing light pollution at three of their operating sites in the New Mexico Permian Basin. DarkSky International, a group that focuses on reducing light pollution, applauded their efforts. These three sites are the first oil and gas sites in the world to receive a…
Read MoreOngoing Emissions at Sinclair Navajo Refinery Raise Alarms
A recent visit to the Sinclair Navajo Refinery in Artesia, New Mexico, a facility with a history of pollution violations — despite being located a few hundred feet from an elementary school — revealed ongoing emissions. This visit was part of an informational field tour I organized for some of the field staff from the…
Read MoreThe Uncertain Future of the Lesser Prairie Chicken in the New Mexico Permian Basin
The lesser-prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is a grassland bird species native to the United States. Their habitat can be found in the southern Great Plains. They are known for their courtship displays and vocalizations, unique physical traits, and specific habitat needs. Unfortunately, they face severe threats due to habitat loss and fragmentation driven by the…
Read MoreSoil Vapor Extraction: A False Cleanup Solution?
Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is a remediation technology for cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater. However, SVE has significant limitations and drawbacks, particularly when it comes to its environmental impact. In this blog post, I’ll talk about SVE, exploring what it is, how it works, and why it’s not as effective as it can or…
Read MoreMy Observations of the Devastating Impact of Oil and Gas on Biodiversity
Prior to joining Oilfield Witness as a thermographer and field ecologist, I worked as an ecologist and Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) cruiser for the Texas A&M University Forest Service. Cruisers gather info on tree species, size, and age. We look at forest structure and composition, vegetation density and diversity, soil type, and wildlife habitat. We…
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