ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM IN PROBLEM OIL PITS1

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Problem Oil Pit (POP) multiagency effort in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VIII and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region VI has resulted in success at remediating and cleaning up hundreds of oil covered pits in oil production fields in six western states. The installation of exclusionary devises at many of these pits will ensure the safety of birds and wildlife for years to come. A heightened awareness of environmental protection standards and regulations by the oil and gas exploration and production industry will increase compliance and enhance management of facilities in an environmentally protective manner toward public health and resources for future generations. In this effort, the federal, state, and tribal partners used their own regulatory tools on the problems and compliance issues encountered. This poster presentation will highlight the achievements of the POP effort by showing photographically and statistically the results of the POP effort: sites cleaned up, abatement of threats to birds and wildlife by exclusionary devices installed, and achievement of compliance with federal, state, and tribal environmental regulations.