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Task Force Hears Novel Idea for Offsetting Dams' Environmental Impacts

KWGS News

Area cities looking to build low-water dams in the Arkansas River may have an option when it comes to mitigating environmental impacts.

Under agreements with the EPA, permanent conservation work in the same watershed can earn credits toward the affects of nearby projects — even if someone else does the work.

"I think it's a good opportunity, and I think there are folks in this community that are interested in it," said Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Michael Teague. "It's something that helps shorten the overall timeline for the project and potentially reduce the public funding side of this."

There's also the potential that the arrangement, known as mitigation banking, could speed up the process of building the dams by shortening the time needed to obtain Clean Water Act permits.

"This is a way that private business could be involved in this project and be very nimble and be on the front end of this project," Teague said. "There could be some great opportunities with tribes across the state."

Credits earned by the entity performing conservation work can be donated or sold to someone else with a project that will have environmental impacts. The benefits could extend beyond the Arkansas River.

"If you end up with more credits than you need and the Port of Catoosa needs it for a fleeting area, then Port of Catoosa could purchase credits from this separate entity just like anybody else could," Teague said.

Mitigation banking has been used extensively along the gulf coast by oil and gas companies.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.