On Saturday, March 23, residents across Ventura called into the Ventura City Fire Department, reporting a strong odor of natural gas. Reports originated from a wide area of the city, spanning from The Avenue all the way to Midtown and the Lemon Grove neighborhoods, concerning residents across Ventura.
According to the Ventura City Fire Department, a substantial natural gas flaring operation in the hills north of the city, alongside strong winds (exceeding 25 mph), was likely the cause for these noxious fumes clouding the city. CFROG’s network of AQS1 air quality sensors along The Avenue showed a significant increase in ambient air quantities of ozone and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the time period in which these reports were made, indicating worsened air quality alongside the unpleasant odor. In addition to this city-wide air quality event on March 23rd, CFROG has received numerous reports from individuals living in West Ventura, concerning increased flaring operations and coinciding unpleasant fumes throughout the past month. These reports beg the question: are flaring operations near The Avenue increasing and intensifying? And what might that mean for the health and safety of the surrounding communities?
Screenshots of Instagram stories on March 23 from the Ventura City Fire Department’s official account.
What is flaring?
Flaring refers to the burning of the gas byproduct that is produced during the oil extraction process. Rather than capturing this gas byproduct, transporting, processing, and selling it for consumer use, oil and gas operators opt to flare this gas, which is less costly. Flaring is categorized into two classifications: Planned and Unplanned (or Emergency) flaring. Planned flaring refers to the anticipated need for excess gas disposal that a facility is not going to utilize in another manner. Unplanned/Emergency flaring occurs when equipment fails or power outages occur, or during other unexpected events beyond the facility’s control. Flaring helps reduce pressure build up within oil extraction and processing activities, reducing risk of explosion and fires, however, it is not the only method of managing the gas produced during the oil extraction process. Operators can capture the gas, process, and transport it through pipelines for consumer and commercial use. However, this is more costly than burning the gas off by flaring.
Ultimately, flaring is an intentional waste of the natural resources that operators are fighting so hard to continue extracting, simply because it is cheaper than the alternatives. It is an easy way for companies to avoid taking full responsibility for all aspects of oil and gas production, allowing operators to avoid the complete cost of production.
Flaring in Ventura County
There are nearly 50 gas flares in Ventura County, including onshore and offshore production facilities. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) regulates the permits which designate how much flaring and what kind of flaring are allowed. The flares located near The Avenue are subject to restrictions on planned flaring within a 12-month period, however, they are not restricted at all when it comes to emergency flaring events. These operators report flaring events, both planned and unplanned, to the VCAPCD which tracks and regulates emissions. A common claim from the industry is that flaring is never routine and always avoided if possible; but these permits for planned flaring are clear evidence this isn’t the case.
What are the environmental and public health impacts of flaring?
When flaring occurs, many pollutants including carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, methane, black carbon (soot), sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the surrounding environment. According to The World Bank, the equivalent of approximately 400 million tons of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere from flaring operations in 2020. This is roughly equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 77 million cars, emphasizing the devastating contribution to climate change that flaring provides.
The impacts that these emissions have on our environment are inextricable from the public health consequences of flaring. It is estimated that more than 500,000 Americans living with 3 miles of flaring operations are at risk for adverse health impacts due to the pollution caused by flaring. These impacts include premature birth and low birth weight, poor respiratory health and decreased respiratory function, skin disorders, decreased life expectancy, heart disease, strokes, and more. It is vital to note that the aforementioned public health impacts have a disproportionate impact on women, children, and low-income communities of color.
How is CFROG monitoring air quality?
CFROG operates a network of six Aeroqual AQS1 air quality monitors across Ventura County, focusing on the most impacted communities (per SB 535), which measure ambient levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Two of these units are located in West Ventura, just off The Avenue, both of which recorded a spike in ozone and VOCs during the possible flaring event. CFROG’s other air quality sensors are located in South Oxnard, with reference units located at the California State University Channel Islands campus and at the Ojai Fire Station (co-located with one of Ventura County Air Pollution Control District’s regulatory monitors). Learn more about our air quality monitoring here.
So, what does all of this mean?
While it cannot be determined at this time whether or not flaring near The Avenue in West Ventura truly is increasing, it is certain that the environmental and public health impacts of natural gas flaring are devastating to our communities. The recent surge in local awareness and concern around flaring, largely caused by the seemingly increased presence of noxious fumes across the city, comes at a crucial time. On Tuesday, April 9, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors finalized a settlement with the oil and gas industry, concerning the once precedent-setting policies included in the county’s 2040 General Plan. Those policies included stricter limits on natural gas flaring, which were weakened as a result of the recent settlement.
If you suspect a natural gas leak, call 911 and the Southern California Gas Company at (800) 427-2200. If you live near a natural gas flare and have complaints or concerns, you can email the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District at complaints@vcapcd.org.