The Debate Over Land Farming Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (Norm) Generated By The Oil And Gas Industry In Mississippi

Since 1995, regulators, landowners, environmental activists and the petroleum industry within the state of Mississippi have been engaged in a contentious debate over an industry-sponsored proposal to allow land farming as a disposal option for Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) associated with the exploration and production of oil and gas. Current state regulations require that NORM associated with the exploration and production of oil and gas be disposed offsite at a licensed low level radioactive waste or NORM disposal facility, or be encapsulated and plugged in old wells meeting specified design and location criteria. The request to modify the relevant disposal rule in order to permit land farming of NORM has been met with strong opposition and legal challenges from environmental groups and affected landowners, but has recently been approved by the Mississippi State Oil and Gas Board. Further challenges in the courts are likely.