The Control of Air Pollution on Indian Reservations

Changes in oil and gas production technology in recent years led to a boom in domestic oil and gas production. Between 2010 and 2014 petroleum production increased fifty-nine percent and natural gas production increased by twenty-two percent. While this production has reduced the nation’s dependence on imported fuel it has resulted in serious air pollution problems developing in rural areas of the western United States including Indian lands. The lack of effective air pollution controls on existing oil and gas well operations has made it difficult to control emissions from this industry. This article looks at the efforts being made to deal with air quality issues arising in Indian country that involve a legal regimen that differs from the program applicable to the rest of the nation. It examines the application of air pollution controls in Utah where approximately forty percent of the active oil and gas wells are located in Indian reservations.