Gas Patch Roulette: How Shale Gas Development Risks Public Health in Pennsylvania
A new report released by Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project and the largest health survey to-date of Marcellus Shale residents surveyed 108 residents in 14 Pennsylvania counties living near oil and gas development and conducted air and water tests at more than half of the households were surveys were completed. The study shows a clear pattern of negative health impacts associated with living near gas facilities.
“For too long, the oil and gas industry and state regulators have dismissed community members’ health complaints as ‘false’ or ‘anecdotal’.” said Nadia Steinzor, Earthworks’ Eastern program coordinator and the project’s lead author. She continued, “The industry tries to shift blame onto residents themselves or onto any other possible source than oil and gas facilities, Now we know better. With this research, they cannot credibly ignore communities any longer.”
Gas Patch Roulette’s main conclusions:
1) Chemicals associated with oil and gas development are present in communities where development occurs.
2) Residents in these communities report that after gas development began, they developed new health problems -- many of which are known consequences of exposure to these chemicals.
3) State governments, which are largely responsible for protecting the public from irresponsible oil and gas development, have until recently refused to act on behalf of the public.
Other findings of the report include that:
- Those living closer to gas facilities report higher rates of impaired health.
- Children living near gas development reported negative health impacts that seem atypical in the young.
- Chemicals detected by air and water sampling have been associated by state and federal agencies with both oil and gas development and with many of the health symptoms reported in the surveys.
- “It is clear from both the lab results and the reported health affects that the exploration of natural gas comes with consequences,” said Calvin Tillman, former mayor of gas-impacted DISH, Texas and founder of ShaleTest. He continued, “Industry needs to step up to the plate and quit denying they are damaging our lives and property. The people in this survey are innocent bystanders that deserve better from the industry that is exploiting them, and the governments that are letting it happen.”
Interviews with impacted residents who participated in this project available upon request.
All reports and supporting information: http://health.earthworksaction.org
Download the summary report. Gas Patch Roulette: How Shale Gas Development Risks Public Health in Pennsylvania.
Download the full report.
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KEY PEER_REVIEWED STUDIES (coming soon...)
Other resources
FRACKING BASICS
FRACKING: Gas Drilling's Environmental Threat. The most in depth reporting on fracking in the nation from ProPublica
DRILLING DOWN Series: Excellent series on drilling and fracking from the New York Times
Videos:
The Sky is Pink: Eloquent video short by Josh Fox summarizing why fracking can never be done safely.
Understanding the Risks of Oil and Gas Development: highly informative forum sponsored by Citizens for a Healthy Community in Hotchkiss, Colorado. Features outstanding presentations by Wyoming Rancher John Fenton, former Dish, TX major Calvin Tillman, industry expert James Northrup, economic analyst Deborah Rogers, Dr. Theo Colborn and others.
The Truth About Fracking: informative Longmont Roar symposium featuring presentations by Shane Davis (Sierra Club), Wes Wilson (EPA fracking whistle-blower) and Phil Doe (retired Army Corp of Engineers) and citizens of Longmont, CO.
United for Action: Fracking Resources (comprehensive list of reports)
Center for American Progress: Drilling down on natural gas concerns
NRDC: Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production
Pace Law Library (HYDROFRACKING): A legal
resource guide for information relating to hydrofracking including
primary and secondary source materials, quick links, and database
resources.
Issues (water, hydrogen sulfide - more coming soon)
WATER
Two Rivers Water Company - buying up Huerfano Watershed senior water rights
"Something's happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear." For those who don't know the connection: Two Rivers is a water buying company formed in 2004 from oil and gas company monies and owns enough Huerfano water to support the fracking operations proposed by Shell. Water source is a big deal in Huerfano. We are in drought and will almost surely be on water restrictions soon."
HYDROGEN SULFIDE
Gassed! A Citizen Investigation of
Toxic Air Pollution from Natural Gas Development - booklet is available
at the La Veta library and available for download here: http://gcmonitor.org/article.php?id=1339
Environmental Justice Research Center, hydrogen sulfide: http://dm.risd.edu/courseblogs/ejrc/?p=162. Includes two H2S sensor recommendations
Media Reports:
Deadly Gas Industry Cover-up Revealed by NC5, by
KREX News Room, by John Dzenitis: http://www.krextv.com/news/around-the-region/NC5-INVESTIGATION-Deadly-Gas-Cover-Up-Revealed-126869973.html
Udall looking into hydrogen sulfide poisoning report: Gas
worker's widow wants investigation, John Colson, Post Independent staff, Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado. http://www.postindependent.com/article/20110830/VALLEYNEWS/110839986/1083&parentprofile=1074
Post Independent
opinion: Industry should keep public, workers aware of
presence, dangers of hydrogen sulfide, Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado. http://www.postindependent.com/article/20110831/VALLEYNEWS/110839995/1083&parentprofile=1074
presence, dangers of hydrogen sulfide, Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado. http://www.postindependent.com/article/20110831/VALLEYNEWS/110839995/1083&parentprofile=1074
COGCC/Industry denies allogations: State says H2S is not a public health risk in
Garfield County, Tests uncover only low levels of deadly hydrogen sulfide gas at area
wells
John Colson Post Independent staff, Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado. http://www.postindependent.com/article/20111006/VALLEYNEWS/111009930&parentprofile=search 