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An Example of a two-track Road | An Example of A Standard Road |
BMPs reduce the amount of area | ...rather than standard roads which |
(To the Right: Centralized tank battery)
BMPs can also reduce the footprint of human activity and its harmful effects on wildlife populations. Placing produced oil, water, or condensate tanks in centralized locations, away from important wildlife areas, can greatly reduce the amount of truck traffic in wildlife habitat. Centralizing tank batteries eliminates the need to drive large tanker trucks to each well and reduces the need to maintain large roads in support of the trucks.
(To the Right: Interim reclamation on coalbed natural gas access road)
"Interim Reclamation" is used to restore vegetation, and scenic and habitat resources while a well continues to produce energy. With interim reclamation, all areas not needed for the production of oil and gas are reclaimed, that is, reshaped, covered with topsoil, and reseeded with native plants.
When the well no longer produces oil and gas, final reclamation begins. The well is sealed (plugged) with cement to protect freshwater aquifers. The entire well location and access road are reshaped as closely as possible to the original contour, covered with topsoil, and reseeded. Over a period of years the site will regrow native vegetation, eventually making it very difficult to find the well location.
(To the Right: A restored well location)
The continued support and use of BMPs will help to ensure a sustainable oil and gas exploration, development, and production program that is conducted in a manner that minimizes harm to the environment while serving the Nation's energy needs.