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FOREWORD

This document reflects our industry's continuing commitment to environmental protection. It provides guidance for minimizing the direct and indirect environmental impacts of solid wastes originating from typical exploration and production (E&P) activities, which include exploration, drilling, well completions and workovers, field production, and gas plant operation.

This manual was prepared by the API Production Waste Issues Group, under the jurisdiction of the API Exploration and Production Department Executive Committee on Environmental Conservation.

The oil and gas industry must operate where oil and gas deposits are found. This means that the exploration and production activities listed above will be conducted in a variety of ecosystems, whose sensitivity to the activities of man will vary widely. The oil and gas industry must be environmental stewards in two critical ways:

a. It must use environmentally sound operating practices to manage materials, land, and the waste generated from exploration and production activities.

b. It must produce oil and gas reserves as efficiently and prudently as possible in order to prevent squandering critical natural resources.

API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made by the institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication an hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal regulation with which this publication may conflict.

Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the director of the Exploration and Production Department, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.