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MEDIA RELEASEFOR MORE INFORMATION Chris Smith Media Relations Coordinator Louisiana Environmental Action Network (504) 884-4008 COALITION FILES FEDERAL SUIT TO FORCE CLEANUP OF MERCURY CONTAMINATIONNEW ORLEANS (May 8, 2007) - A coalition of local environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit against EnerVest Operating LLC, a major operator of natural gas wells in the Monroe Gas Field, to force cleanup of mercury-contaminated wetlands and other soils at gas production sites in Ouachita, Union and Morehouse parishes. Student attorneys from the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic filed the suit on behalf of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network, the Delta (Louisiana) Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Gulf Restoration Network, and the Louisiana Audubon Council. EnerVest controls more than 4,000 natural gas wells in the Monroe Field. Many of the wells are equipped with mercury meters, which hold about eight pounds of mercury each. A number of these meters leak mercury-which is a hazardous waste under state and federal law-into surrounding soils and wetlands. Mercury contamination is found in soils and wetlands around rivers and bayous near Monroe, endangering the health and welfare of Louisiana citizens. Industry has phased out mercury meters in other parts of the country and on federal property in Louisiana in favor of more modern, non-polluting, non-mercury flow meters. "We can't understand why EnerVest persists in using these meters long after gas producers were required to clean up mercury and replace the meters in the D'Arbonne and Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuges," says Barry Kohl, of the Louisiana Audubon Council. "Leaking meters continue to contaminate private property and public resources." Currently, there are 41 mercury-in-fish advisories statewide, including seven within the Monroe Gas Field. The Ouachita River, Bayou DeSiard and Black Lake have "mercury-in-fish" advisories that caution pregnant women, women who are breast-feeding, and children younger than seven years of age to limit consumption of fish. Eating fish with high levels of mercury raises the risk of developmental and cognitive damage in babies and children and has been linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease in men. "Mercury contamination hurts commercial fishing in the Ouachita River," says Marylee Orr, executive director, Louisiana Environmental Action Network. "We are standing up and saying ‘no' to the continued pollution by the natural gas industry in our state and the harmful effects it has on other industries." The coalition filed the federal suit because EnerVest failed to provide a plan to clean up the sites in a timely manner and to reduce mercury levels in aquatic environments to safe levels within the Monroe Gas Field. # # # FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Babich Tulane Environmental Law Clinic (504) 862-8800 Barry Kohl Louisiana Audubon Council (504) 861-8465 Leslie March Delta (Louisiana) Chapter of the Sierra Club (985) 249-1160 Marylee Orr Louisiana Environmental Action Network (225) 205-1438 Aaron Viles Gulf Restoration Network (504) 525-1528, ext. 207 |
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