Illegal oil rig waste dumping of Chevron

Prepared by:Mohona Dutta

What is the problem with open disposal of oil rig wastes by Chevron?

What are the impacts of this problem?

How is the community affected by this problem?

How this problem can be solved?

What are the biggest challenges of solving the problem?

Research Questions

Overview of the problem

Chevron dumped oil rig wastes in the stream named Jibdori Chhara in Kamalganj Upazila (Dhaka Mirror, 2011).

The water of the stream became poisonous.

Around 100 villages in nearby villages contacted skin diseases.

Chevron had no safe way of disposing wastes after drilling the well.

Chevron continued to deny the allegations.

Soil Erosion

Pollution

Ground water Contamination

Dead Aquatic animals

Spread of Skin Disease

Impact on Community

No source of Water supply

No source of food supply

Blockage of

Public SewagesViolation

of trust

Destruction of natural resources

Violation of Rules

IllegalOil

Waste dumpinga violation of Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA)

a violation of Human rights

a violation of Bangladesh Environmental act

a violation of Bangladesh Ground water Ordinance Act

Source: Department of Environment of Bangladesh

Literature

ReviewLiterature

Review

Hamilton III and Berken discussed the Exxon’s decision to seek cheap oil- waste disposal in Louisiana which was proved to be harmful and deadly for the state. It was found that Exxon broke Alabama’s regulation of having a certified facility for the wastes. Several residents in the nearby community suffer from various health hazards and some even died. Further Analysis also showed that lack of code of ethics and corporate social responsibility among employees was cause of this incident.

Kraus and Romero (2011) described the impacts of Chevron’s contamination of waste disposal in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The ecosystem of the Amazon was severely contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic heavy metals. It led to severe health impacts and wastage of agricultural lands. Altogether, the clean up effort of Chevron was very inadequate and therefore it paid $27 billion for damage assessment.

Leigh( 2006) explored the various ways British oil trader Trafigura was involved in one of the worst pollution disasters in recent history. Thousands of Africans were hospitalized and several died due to the release of fatal levels of poisonous gases. Due to dumping of banned wastes in the coast of Ivory coast the company now has to pay € 1 million in fine.

Literature Review

Romm(2011) explores various issues regarding the Bp’s illegal disposal of hazardous waste on Alaska’s North Slope. Several employees of the Doyonn drilling illegally discharged waste oil and hazardous substances by injecting them down the outer rim of the oil wells. This was in direct violation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Act and for which BP had to pay $1million as fine.

Tudolo(2009) examined the environmental damaged caused by Shell due to dumping of hazardous waste. Several discharge of drilling and production waste and oil spills from pipelines spread to land, sea and air of Neambe. This led to dearth of fisherman, food shortage, polluted air and water and low farm produce. Although, Shell did many activities for the development of the community, its unethical business practices ruined its reputation in Nigeria.

Literature Review(contd.)

RecommendationGovernment should enforce strict monitoring and policies

regarding waste disposal.

Company should raise awareness among employees.

Public awareness regarding waste disposal through campaign.

Company should switch to safer methods of drilling oils.

Use third party companies to dispose oil wastages.

Government should regulate waste disposal more strictly. by strengthening the department of environment.

Implementation

Mandatory effluent treatment plant and corrective actions.

Implementation(contd.)

Punitive Measures should be taken

Punitive Measures should be taken

Develop an environmental compliance program and environmental training program for employees.

Implementation(contd.)

Chevron dumps oil rig waste into hilly stream. (2011, July). Dhaka Mirror. Retrieved from http://www.dhakamirror.com/?p=32829.

Department of Environment, Bangladesh.(2009). Rules and regulation regarding Environmental policies. Retrieved from http://www.doe-bd.org.

Hamilton II, J., B., & Berken, E., J. (2005). Exxon at Grand Bois, Louisiana: A three-level Analysis of management decision making and corporate conduct. Business Retrieved from http://ethicsops.com/Documents/ExxonAtGrandBoisLa.pdf.

krauss, C., & Romero, S. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/world/americas/15ecuador.html?_r =2.

Leigh, D. How UK oil company Trafigura tried to cover up African pollution disaster. The Guardian. Retrieved from

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/16/trafigura-african-pollution- disaster.

Reference

Romm,J. (2011).Bp spills 2,100 to 4,200 Gallons of Oil in Arctic Tundra. Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/07/18/271799/bp-spills-oil-in-arctic.

Tuodolo, F.(2009). Corporate Social Responsibility: Between civil society and the oil Industry in the developing World, 8, 535-539. Retrieved from http://www.acme-journal.org/vol8/Tuodolo09.pdf.

Reference(contd.)

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