Seymour Holtzman

Risk Assessment for Produced Water Discharges to Open Bays in Louisiana

Potential human health and environmental impacts from discharge of produced water to the Gulf of Mexico concern regulators at the State and Federal levels, environmental interest groups, industry and the public. Current regulations in the United States require or propose a zero discharge limit for coastal facilities based primarily on studies performed in low energy, poorly flushed environments. Produced water discharges in coastal Louisiana, however, include a number located in open bays, where potential and impacts are likely to be larger than the minimal impacts associated with offshore discharges, but smaller than those demonstrated in low-energy canal environments.