Your Trusted Environmental Consultants in Midland-Odessa & the Permian Basin
Expert environmental, health, and safety compliance for the oil and gas industry, industrial services, and real estate in West Texas.
Our Environmental Expertise in Midland-Odessa & the Permian Basin
Peace Environmental Services (PES) is a premier environmental consulting firm serving the Midland-Odessa metropolitan area and the wider Permian Basin, including Ector, Midland, Martin, and Andrews counties. Operating in the heart of the nation's most prolific oil and gas producing region requires a highly specialized approach to environmental compliance. The rapid pace of energy exploration, production, and supporting industrial services demands strict adherence to both state and federal regulations to avoid costly operational shutdowns and penalties.
Whether you need complex air permitting for a new compressor station, a site-specific SPCC plan for a tank battery, or due diligence for oilfield real estate, our team of environmental engineers and safety experts is ready to deploy. We provide turnkey environmental, health, and safety (EHS) solutions tailored to the unique arid climate, high-hazard operations, and specific regulatory landscape governed by the EPA, TCEQ Region 7, and the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC).
Explore Our Services
Stormwater Permitting and Compliance Services in the Permian Basin
Managing stormwater in West Texas presents unique challenges, from sudden, intense flash floods to the difficulty of establishing vegetation in an arid climate. We develop site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) that ensure full compliance with EPA and TCEQ Region 7 regulations. We focus on effective Best Management Practices (BMPs) designed specifically for the Permian Basin, addressing severe erosion control on disturbed oilfield sites, pipeline right-of-ways, and industrial yards. We manage your NOIs and routine inspections to keep your West Texas operations fully compliant.
Midland-Odessa SPCC Plan Development & Compliance
With the vast infrastructure of oil and gas production sites, salt water disposal (SWD) facilities, and tank batteries across the Permian Basin, robust oil spill prevention is non-negotiable. Our consultants specialize in creating and implementing Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans compliant with EPA 40 CFR Part 112. We provide thorough site evaluations, secondary containment sizing for high-volume storage, and operational training to prevent crude oil and produced water discharges, protecting your assets and minimizing your environmental liability.
Air Permitting and Compliance for Permian Basin Operations
Air emissions from upstream and midstream oil and gas operations face intense regulatory scrutiny. We assist Midland-Odessa businesses with complex air emissions calculations, regulatory reporting, and securing critical authorizations—including Permits by Rule (PBRs), Standard Permits for Oil and Gas Facilities, and New Source Review (NSR) permits. We expertly navigate the overlapping rules of TCEQ Region 7 and the RRC, managing emissions reporting for VOCs, methane, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and flaring operations to keep your sites compliant and active.
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) for West Texas Properties
Real estate transactions in the Permian Basin carry significant hidden risks due to over a century of intensive oil and gas activity. Before acquiring commercial, industrial, or surface rights, rigorous environmental due diligence is essential. We perform comprehensive Phase I ESAs in strict accordance with ASTM E1527-21 standards. We thoroughly investigate the region’s extensive history of drilling, historical tank batteries, legacy wells, and potential brine spills to identify any Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) before you finalize your transaction.
Permian Basin Phase II ESA and Subsurface Environmental Testing
If a Phase I ESA identifies potential historical contamination on a Midland or Odessa property, our team seamlessly transitions into a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment. We conduct targeted soil and groundwater testing tailored specifically to oilfield-related contaminants, such as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and produced water impacts (chlorides and salts). Following ASTM E1903 standards, we accurately delineate subsurface impacts, providing operators and investors with the definitive data needed to manage risk and plan remediation.
OSHA Audit and Workplace Safety Consulting
The oil and gas exploration, production, and service sectors are exceptionally high-hazard environments. We provide rigorous OSHA compliance audits and workplace safety consulting customized for the Permian Basin workforce. From hazard communication and lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedures to specialized oilfield safety protocols and mock OSHA inspections, we help you build a resilient safety culture. Our goal is to reduce workplace incidents, lower your Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), and ensure total regulatory adherence.
EPCRA Tier II Reporting Services in West Texas
Oilfield operations, chemical distributors, and industrial service companies in the Permian Basin store massive quantities of hazardous chemicals, drilling fluids, and production chemicals. If your facility exceeds regulatory thresholds, mandatory annual EPCRA Tier II reporting is required. We relieve your EHS team of this administrative burden ahead of the March 1st deadline by classifying your chemical inventories, calculating maximum daily amounts, and ensuring accurate STEERS submissions to the TCEQ, local fire departments, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
Respirator Fit Testing and Training in Midland-Odessa
West Texas workers face serious airborne hazards daily, including deadly hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas, silica dust from fracking operations, and chemical vapors. We offer professional, on-site respirator fit testing and OSHA-compliant respiratory protection training. We ensure your Permian Basin crews are equipped with the correct, properly fitted safety gear to survive and thrive in high-risk environments, keeping your operations entirely compliant with federal occupational health standards.
Midland-Odessa Environmental Compliance FAQ
01Do I need a SWPPP if it rarely rains in Midland-Odessa?
Yes. Even though the Permian Basin has an arid climate, the EPA and TCEQ still require a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for construction sites disturbing over one acre and for specific industrial facilities. When it does rain in West Texas, it often occurs in intense bursts that cause severe flash flooding and rapid erosion, washing oilfield pollutants into local dry washes, draws, and ephemeral streams.
02Who regulates environmental compliance for oil and gas sites in Texas: TCEQ or the RRC?
In Texas, environmental jurisdiction for the energy sector is split. Generally, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates wastes associated with the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas (such as drilling muds and produced water). The TCEQ regulates air emissions, hazardous wastes, and water discharges from downstream facilities and refineries. We help operators navigate the complex overlap between these two agencies.
03Are there special air permitting rules for the Permian Basin?
Yes. Because of the massive concentration of oil and gas infrastructure, the TCEQ has specific regulations regarding emissions from oil and gas sites, particularly concerning Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), methane, and flaring. While the Midland-Odessa area is currently in attainment for ozone, strict adherence to Permits by Rule (PBR) and Standard Permits is essential to prevent regional air quality degradation and enforcement actions.
04Why is H2S a major focus for safety and environmental compliance in West Texas?
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic, corrosive gas frequently encountered in Permian Basin oil and gas formations. Because it can be lethal at very low concentrations, strict OSHA regulations dictate worker protection, including continuous monitoring and mandatory respirator fit testing. Additionally, the RRC (Rule 36) and TCEQ have strict requirements regarding H2S public exposure limits, flaring rules, and dispersion modeling to protect surrounding communities.
05Do abandoned legacy wells show up on a Phase I ESA?
Yes. A properly conducted Phase I Environmental Site Assessment in West Texas will include a thorough review of RRC records, historical aerial imagery, and topographic maps to identify legacy, plugged, or abandoned oil wells. These "orphan wells" can be significant Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) because they may leak crude oil, methane, or highly saline produced water, posing a major environmental and financial liability for the new surface owner.