Committed to Safety
Shell responds to public health concerns
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
May 30, 2008
Over the past two months, we have met and talked with industry representatives from Questar and Shell about the air pollution and ozone concerns in the Upper Green River Valley. Both companies expressed deep concern over the ozone advisories in February and March, and said they are actively taking measures to identify and repair or replace equipment that is found to be contributing to excessive air pollution emissions. They also expressed a readiness to meet or talk with anyone who has concerns or questions about the natural gas development operations they are doing in the Pinedale Anticline.
We also received a letter from David Todd, Shell US Onshore Asset Manager, responding to our questions about their company’s operations in the Pinedale area. Below is his letter on behalf of Shell Exploration & Production:
____________________________________
May 12, 2008
I have been asked by Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van de Veer to reply in regard to your letter about our operations in the Pinedale area and your public health concerns. I want to first acknowledge receipt of your letter and thank you for taking the time to correspond on what is a matter of great importance to us all.
I assure you that Shell is committed to Safety as our highest value, and that includes the health of our employees, contractors and the communities in which we operate. I can further assure you that the thought and effort we (as well as the other Pinedale operators) have put into our proposals as part of the Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (RDSEIS) process for the Pinedale Anticline lead directly to a number of benefits to all stakeholders. Certainly not least among these is a reduced air, water, wildlife and operational footprint in the area while safely and efficiently securing the energy resource.
Shell supports the leadership role the State, through Governor Freudenthal’s office, has taken in responding to your concerns. In that regard, we actively participate in future discussions with the State and Community.
As you are probably aware, Shell has actively engaged with many stakeholders on many issues and topics over the 6-plus years we have been operating in the Pinedale area. We hope to speak directly with you about the health concerns you have raised. We value your input and participation.
Sincerely,
David Todd
Shell US Onshore Asset Manager
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