Wetlands loss caused by Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas pipelines

By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune
October 05, 2009, 9:46PM A new study [pdf] for the federal Minerals Management Service concludes that the construction of pipelines related to oil and gas production in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico “can cause locally intense habitat changes, thereby contributing to the loss of critically important land and wetland areas.” The report is part of ongoing research by the Minerals Management Service to understand the effects of the production of oil and gas in federally controlled Gulf waters. Louisiana officials have long argued that the federal government should share a greater financial burden in restoring coastal wetlands and land areas because of the effects of such offshore development. … The biggest impacts were found to be the greater loss of wetlands and land areas associated with Outer Continental Shelf-related pipelines and canals in Texas and Louisiana. The effects varied according to the construction methods used. … The report found direct impacts from dredging and indirect impacts from construction of canals and spoil banks. They included altered flooding patterns for adjacent wetlands caused by the spoil banks or saltwater intrusion from the Gulf through the canals. … The report also suggested that “the cumulative effect of hundreds of pipelines contributes to regional trends in land loss.” …