* Our email address: westmcg@gmail.com
* To contact your state legislator:
For the email address, click on the envelope under the photo
WMCG is posting articles, research, events,
and meetings on the Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens’ Group facebook
page. We invite you to join the page.
Take Action
***Petition to DEP—Notifications to Townships
Local Zoning to Play More Important Role
“Please take a moment to sign this petition: https://goo.gl/mMiv67. The Environmental Integrity Project would like to present this petition to Secretary Quigley of DEP asking for changes
in Act 14 Notifications that are sent to municipalities informing them
about proposed oil and gas activities in the township. The current notifications are woefully inadequate for two reasons. The first is that municipalities are only given 30 days to respond
which is not enough time to ensure a township meeting is held and
elected officials have the chance to discuss the notice. The second is
because there is no required standard language in these notifications,
and elected officials are not realizing that this is their only time to comment on the activities. The
notification should prompt municipalities to alert the DEP of any
issues, like if the proposed site is not zoned for oil and gas
activities. Local zoning is something that the SWPA DEP has stated publically they will be considering more often and changing the requirements of the Act 14 Notices would be a great step in the right direction.
Thank
you for your time in considering and signing this petition. Please share
with other Pennsylvanians working on or dealing with Shale gas issues.”
Sincerely,
Stephanie Novak
Community Organizer
Mountain Watershed Association
(724)455-4200 ext. 5#
Events
***Teleconference on Endocrine Disruptors and Fracking April 7
“TEDX is
pleased to announce a spring teleconference series on how chemicals
associated with unconventional oil and gas development (known as
fracking) may be affecting endocrine function, reproduction and prenatal
development. Learn directly from scientists presenting their recent
research on this emerging issue. Our first presentation is:
Unconventional oil and gas extraction and endocrine disruptors: Implications for human and animal health
Join us
Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 2:00 pm Eastern, to hear Dr. Chris Kassotis
discuss his recently published research demonstrating increased
endocrine disrupting activity in surface and ground water near fracking
wastewater spill sites, as well as nuclear receptor antagonism for 23
commonly used fracking chemicals. His studies have shown prenatal
exposure to a mixture of those chemicals at likely environmentally
relevant concentrations resulted in adverse health effects in both male
and female mice, including decreased sperm counts, modulated hormone
levels, increased body weights, and more. Dr. Kassotis will also discuss
his recent work showing increased receptor antagonism downstream from a
wastewater injection disposal site. See the call's webpage for more
information.
Register now for the teleconference call!
***Josh Fox Climate Film- April 13
All are warmly
invited to a special climate change event sponsored by the climate
action group Pittsburgh350. As part of his national tour, Oscar
Nominated director Josh Fox (GASLAND) will present his new movie
“How to Let Go of the World and Love all the Things Climate Can’t Change“.
7:00 pm, Wednesday, April 13
Carnegie Lecture Hall.
(Behind the Oakland Carnegie Library)
Get your free ticket to Josh Fox Climate Film https://www.eventbrite.com/e/premiere-of-josh-foxs-climate-change-film-tickets-24059544746
In the film, Josh
Fox uses his deeply personal style to investigate the greatest threat
our planet has ever known - climate change. After traveling to 12
countries on 6 continents, Fox asks, “What is it that climate change
can’t destroy? What is so deep within us that no calamity can take it
away?”
The movie will be
followed by Q and A session with director Josh Fox. Admittance is free,
but a donation according to your means will be greatly appreciated.
The Lecture Hall is fully ADA compliant.
Legal Cases
***Act 13 Issues Argued on March 9 by Atts. John Smith, Jonathan Kamin, Jordan Yeager
Note that Judge Wecht asks the questions we want asked.
(These are the Act 13
Issues that are being heard-gag orders on doctors, eminent domain,
severability, and notification of contamination to private well owners)
“In a 90-minute marathon that saw six
attorneys take turns responding to four discrete questions posed by the
court, the justices heard argument over the government's right to
eminent domain, its responsibility to notify citizens of oil and gas
spills affecting their water supply, and whether Act 13's limits on
doctors' ability to share information about patients' chemical exposure
harms the public health. The "whiplash" series of arguments in Robinson
Township v. Commonwealth, as one attorney described them, largely
focused on whether portions of Act 13 provide special treatment to the
oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania.
In a related decision under the same
caption, the Supreme Court in December 2013 struck down portions of the
act requiring municipalities to adopt uniform zoning ordinances that
would allow drilling in all zoning districts. The justices had asked the
Commonwealth Court to further address some of the remaining provisions
in the act, which was signed into law by former Gov. Tom Corbett in
2012.
Water Supplies
John Smith of Smith Butz, arguing on
behalf of a group of municipalities, said Section 3218.1 of Act 13
unfairly treats Pennsylvanians who rely on private water sources by
excluding them from the notification provided to public water systems
following an oil spill. The distinction is made "without a rational
basis," he said. The Department of Environmental Protection could
provide notification to those using private water, he said, but instead
claims it isn't feasible. Sean Concannon, arguing on behalf of the
DEP, responded to a question from Justice Max Baer about the agency's
available information by saying it doesn't know where all the private
wells are located and who owns them. Instead, Concannon said, the DEP
knows of a "small universe" of wells—only those within 3,000 feet of a
well pad—but that universe doesn't consider many of the thousands of
acres where spills could occur.
"How is this a rational classification that we can uphold?" asked Justice David N. Wecht.
The distinction was a policy choice by the General Assembly, Concannon replied.
Justice Debra M. Todd said the group excluded
from notice by Section 3218.1 is not de minimis, noting that it includes
3 million Pennsylvanians.
"It seems to me the state's interest
here is in protecting the drinking water," she said. "That's why I'm
having trouble with the public-private distinction."
Wecht, a vocal member of the bench
in his first argument session, asked whether Act 13 requires rural
citizens who use private wells "to wait until they or their animals grow
three heads" before being made aware of contamination.
Smith closed his argument by
saying that in hundreds of cases of contamination stemming from spills
and releases of oil, those affected used private water sources in every
case.
Doctors' Disclosure
Addressing the constitutionality of
Sections 3222.1(b)(10) and (b)(11), which prohibit health care
professionals from disclosing without permission information deemed by
companies to constitute trade secrets, Jordan Yeager of Curtin &
Heefner argued the statute gives the oil and gas industry special
treatment. He questioned whether there is any legitimate state interest
served by creating a limitation that exists in no other industry.
"We're asking doctors to figure this out on the fly," he said.
Wecht pointed out that, even if the statute represents "horrible policy," the court needs more to invalidate it.
"Are you saying there's no rational basis for favoring this particular industry?" Todd asked.
"Absolutely," Yeager responded.
Howard Hopkirk of the Office of
Attorney General said the appellants mischaracterized the statute by
calling it a "gag rule."
But Hopkirk took a series of rapid-fire challenges from the justices in making his case.
"We don't need special legislation for this industry," Justice Max Baer said.
Justice Christine L. Donohue asked
whether the statute is "absolutely clear" that a physician can share
information with a patient when necessary, commenting that statutes that
don't affect the oil and gas industry "explicitly" allow such
disclosures.
Wecht questioned whether the
statute exposes doctors to tort liability by preventing them from
discussing their observations with colleagues, thereby "hampering their
ability to stay up on science" and treat patients accordingly.
Todd cut to the heart of the issue, asking if any other industry gets such statutory "preferential treatment."
"Not in this specific way," Hopkirk conceded.
Eminent Domain
Looking to Section 3241, Jonathan
Kamin of Goldberg, Kamin & Garvin, arguing for the townships,
questioned the public benefit in allowing a gas company to condemn the
final portion of a property once it has the majority.
"The whole industry has a public benefit to the Pennsylvania consumer," Baer responded.
Kamin noted that there is no
requirement in the statute that companies deliver anything to the public
once land has been taken.
"If you're giving the supreme governmental
right to take private property for the public good, there has to be a
public component," he said.
Matthew Haverstick of Kleinbard LLC,
arguing on behalf of the Public Utility Commission, said the townships
offered a facial challenge to Section 3241, which he said is "more than
capable" of a constitutional reading.
"There's a private purpose in the taking, no?" Baer asked.
"Not in this case," Haverstick
replied, adding that his opposing counsel was attempting to "crowbar"
facts into the case.
Haverstick, responding to a question
from Wecht about the court's role in scrutinizing the issue, said the
court should determine the "outer boundaries" of what constitutes a
public taking. A factual situation could arise on a challenge at a later
date, he said, "but that's not today."
Severability
Yeager also addressed a fourth
question from the court, on the severability of Sections 3305 through
3309 of Act 13, on challenges to government ordinances, from the
sections invalidated in the first Robinson Township decision.
Following the 2013 ruling, those "provisions are incomplete and incapable of being executed," he said.
The court said the statewide uniform
regime couldn't withstand a challenge, and the sections at issue
"provide a mechanism for enforcing that statewide regime," Yeager said,
adding that "each and every part" of those sections is wound up in the
provisions deemed unconstitutional.”
PCN-TV
***Yeager Compound-Argued by Smith Butz, LLC
(Excerpts From the Petitioner’s Brief)
(This case is important for many reasons. In
addition to proving contamination of a private water source, it
establishes negligence on the part of the DEP. jan)
“The Petitioner, Smith Butz, LLC
("Counsel") is a law firm that represents several property owners in
Amwell Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania who live in close
proximity to the Yeager Impoundment and Yeager drill site.
..Shortly after the Yeager drill site
and Yeager Impoundment were introduced into the area up-gradient from
their properties, Counsel's clients became very sick and several of
their pets and farm animals died. As Counsel's clients relied on water
wells and natural springs for all of their domestic water needs and to
support their animals, they called upon the Department (DEP, Jan) to
inspect the Yeager Impoundment and Yeager drill site to make sure that
these facilities were not impacting their water and air. The Department
took limited action to investigate these citizens' claims and allowed
for the continued operation of the Yeager drill site, including allowing
the leaking Yeager Impoundment to remain in operation.
…Presently, Counsel represents these individuals in a number of proceedings
in a variety of venues against the Department and
against Range and its contractors. Counsel appears on behalf of its
clients in an original jurisdiction mandamus proceeding before this
Court, captioned Voyles v. .E.P., at Docket Number 253 MD 11, wherein it
is asserted that the Department failed to perform its statutory
obligations to investigate and prosecute numerous violations of both
Pennsylvania law and federal law at the Yeager drill site, which
includes the Yeager Impoundment. Subsequent to this act it has now been confirmed that the Yeager Impoundment leaked, a fact previously denied by Range and the Department for years . ….IT (counsel, jan) also demonstrated that the
Department withheld critical diagnostic results from water tests it
conducted following complaints of contaminated water from Counsel's sick
clients.
In the summer of 2010, the Yeager
Impoundment became septic, producing substantial amounts of dangerous
and potentially deadly hydrogen sulfide. Due to the magnitude of the
hydrogen sulfide problem, Range used AcroClear, a product containing the
highly toxic chemical acrolein, to scavenge the bacteria producing the
hydrogen sulfide. Department representatives have testified that in
late August, early September 2010, they did not conduct any inspection
as to the soundness of the Yeager Impoundment liner so as to prevent
acrolein and other known chemicals and heavy metals from leaching into
the groundwater.
..Written inspection report forms are
completed by Department personnel after site inspections and then this
information is manually inputted into eFACTS. . Each inspection report
has its own unique Inspection ID number. Despite the fact that the
eFACTS system is predicated on written inspection records with
Inspection ID numbers existing the Department incredibly maintains that
there are no such records.
…Simply put, the Department does
not want to admit that any records exist that further illustrate its
reckless handling of an environmental catastrophe at the Yeager
Impoundment that has sickened Counsel's clients, destroyed their
property values and killed their pets and animals, the Department
incredibly maintains that there are no such records.”
***Justice! Cabot Case is a Win!! 4.25 million dollars
Cabot banned from Dimock
“A jury ruled that Cabot Oil and Gas
did contaminate wells belonging to two families in Susquehanna County.
Cabot Oil and Gas must pay millions of dollars to the families involved
in the federal civil suit.
Residents first reported problems in
the wells in 2008. The water that came out of their faucets turned
cloudy, foamy and discolored, and it smelled and tasted foul.
Homeowners, all of whom had leased their land to Cabot, said the water
made them sick with symptoms that included vomiting, dizziness and skin
rashes.
A state investigation found that
Cabot had allowed gas to escape into the region's groundwater supplies,
contaminating at least 18 residential wells.
The Hubert family and the Ely family,
both from Dimock Township, are the only residents who did not settle
with Cabot Oil and Gas over water contamination.
The plaintiffs' attorney called the verdict a warning shot that will resonate beyond the courtroom.
"Cabot doesn't care. Industry doesn't
care. They're the big bucks. Their influence is wide and far. ... It's
fine with me if industry takes a big fat hit," Leslie Lewis said.
The Ely’s were awarded $2.6 million
and their three children $50,000 each. The Huberts were awarded $1.4
million, with another family member awarded $50,000.
It took jurors two days to reach the verdict.
“$4.2 million will not bring back
drinkable well water to the long-suffering families of Dimock,
Pennsylvania,” Sandra Steingraber, PhD, science advisor for Americans
Against Fracking, told EcoWatch.
“No amount of money can do that. Once
groundwater is polluted, it’s polluted forevermore. But what this
important jury decision does do is strip away the mirage of omnipotence
that Cabot and other gas companies operate behind. Fracking poisons
water. That’s what the science shows. The frackers will be held
responsible. That’s what this court decision shows.”
A NPR StateImpact report, prior to
the trial, said that Cabot Oil & Gas had already accumulated more
than 130 drilling violations at its Dimock wells, yet insisted that
methane migration in Dimock’s water is naturally occurring. The company is currently banned from drilling in a 9-mile area of Dimock but is trying to lift the ban.
A state investigation, according to the AP, found
that Cabot had allowed gas to escape into the region’s groundwater
supplies, contaminating at least 18 residential water wells.”
Other news
***Thank you to David Ball-Letter to Editor
(David
is from Peters Twp. He is one of the leaders in the fight to protect
the environment, and heath, and property values of the region. Jan)
“I thank God for Peters Township Councilman David
Ball and other dedicated civic volunteers who look out for our best
interests. I believe it’s fair to say that a lot of people who signed up
for drilling now regret their decision or didn’t really know the
implications. Everyone is busy, and who has the time to do all the
research on this complicated topic? Apparently David Ball has taken on
that task, and I for one am grateful for his efforts. Let’s applaud him,
not criticize him.
Christine Posti
Venetia”
***Moraltorium on Fracking
There was a call for a moraltorium on fracking on March 21 in Harrisburg..
Members of the faith community asked for:
*a MORALtorium on permits for any new wells that involve hydraulic fracking.
*fully funding the examination of
existing PA wells to monitor for methane leaks polluting the air and gas
leaks polluting the water.
*the cleanup of contaminated wells which cause health and safety problems for Pennsylvanians.
*the retraining of workers displaced from fossil fuel-related jobs for the emerging renewable energy sector.
***Fracking Study Finds Toxins in Wyoming Towns Groundwater
“Hydraulic fracturing and other oil
and gas operations contaminated the groundwater in Pavillion, Wyoming,
according to a new study by Stanford University scientists. The findings
raise concerns about possible water pollution in other heavily fracked
and geologically similar communities in the U.S. West. . Tests
of nearby groundwater showed dangerous concentrations of diesel-related
and volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, a known carcinogen,
and the neurotoxin toluene. Extremely
high levels of diesel-related organic compounds were found in the
monitoring wells. Also, low molecular weight organic acids were detected
in high concentrations in the monitoring wells.
The researchers also found that
energy companies frequently fracked at much shallower depths than
previously thought, sometimes very close to drinking water wells. In
addition, companies fracked into underground sources of drinking water,
or USDWs, defined under federal law as aquifers that could supply a
public water system. Fracking into USDWs is legal, but the oil and gas
industry has long insisted that fracking occurs far deeper than where
aquifers are located." Published in Environmental Science & Technology, 2016
***Interesting Email From State Senator Dinniman About Landmen
(A similar action should have taken
place before thousands of Pennsylvanians signed leases for gas wells
with landmen before fully understanding the implications of that action.
Jan)
“As more and more pipeline projects are planned for our region, with them come not only environmental concerns but also threats to individual property rights and historic preservation.
You are invited to join me …for a special press conference in support of Senate Bill 991, legislation to regulate land agents in Pennsylvania.
I will be joined by residents, business owners, and homeowners who feel
that they have been intimidated, harassed and bullied by land agents.
To negotiate easements and rights of
way with property owners, pipeline companies employee or contract with
land agents. These agents perform title or contract functions and
negotiate the acquisition of land and property rights. There is no
reason why they shouldn’t be held to the same standards and scrutiny as
realtors. However, currently in Pennsylvania they operate without any oversight whatsoever. It seems like some
of these agents, according to residents, will do or say practically
anything to get landowners to sign over their property rights.
In response to numerous complaints
from residents, businesses and homeowners about the aggressive tactics
employed by such land agents, I have introduced Senate Bill 991. The
bill would amend Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Licensing and Registration
Act to define the role of “land acquisition broker” and require registration with the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.
Senate Bill 991 also calls for allowing public access to a listing of
registered brokers, requiring criminal history background checks of
brokers, and providing the commission with the authority to revoke or
suspend them for a number of reasons such as fraud or misrepresentation.
In addition, you may know that Ship
Road Park is located near several properties that are impacted by Sunoco
Logistics' proposed Mariner East pipeline project. Interestingly, the
park is also adjacent to a potentially historically significant property
that is believed to be the site of the encampment of the Pennsylvania
First Militia during what became known as the “Battle of the Clouds”
during the Revolutionary War. The event, which occurred on September 16,
1777, near present-day Malvern, was so-named because a sudden
thunderstorm and torrential downpour prevented an imminent clash between
General Howe’s British forces and the Continental Army under the
command of General Washington. As a member of the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission, I will be requesting that the
commission conduct an archeological survey of the site to determine any
historic artifacts.
Thank you and please join me.. to
support Senate Bill 991 and stand up for individual property rights, our
environment, and our history.
Sincerely,
Andy Dinniman
State Senator - 19th District
***Mt Pleasant Twp. Residents Request Evacuation plans
“Residents
of Westland were requesting info on evacuation plans, and that’s where
this came from. They evacuated a couple of times, so we’re looking into what we can do in that respect,” Reed said.
Board discussion revolved around
how residents would differentiate between fire sirens and sirens that
indicated specific emergencies, such as gas explosions.
Jane
Worthington of 135 Main St., Hickory, said during public comment Fort
Cherry School District doesn’t have an evacuation plan in place in
regard to oil- and gas-drilling accidents or railroad explosions.
“The
township doesn’t have exhaustive, complete evacuation plans for these
types of situations, either,” Worthington said. “Is that what that
motion does? I think this is a bigger potential problem than sweeping
this under a plan to buy some sirens.”
***IUP Students Test Westmoreland Water Supply
(You
rarely read anything about the fracking at Beaver Run Reservoir. For
those who are not aware, IUP students and staff test the water quarterly
at the Beaver Run Reservoir. Many questions remain including the extent
of testing and specific chemicals tested for. This article from 2015
provides some background information.jan)
“The
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County will pay Indiana University
of Pennsylvania $80,000 this year to test and analyze water samples at
and around its Beaver Run Reservoir.
It will
be the fourth year the school's chemistry and science department has
worked to review water quality issues near the 11-billion-gallon
reservoir and surrounding property.
The
authority has leased property at the reservoir to Consol Energy, which
has built nearly 40 deep wells to probe for Marcellus shale natural gas.
Some of the wells are located just a stone's throw from the reservoir.
IUP
students and staff take samples from tributaries and streams that feed
the reservoir, the reservoir itself and other ground water locations on
the property.
Results are posted on a website, run by the school, at least four times a year.
Results from IUP's last round of tests showed no abnormality with the water supply at Beaver Run, authority officials said.”
The results can be found at IUP's website: http://www.iup.edu/page.aspx?id=120005.
***Highly Polluting Petrochemical Plants Increase Due to Fracking
“The
boom in cheap natural gas is spawning a wave of petrochemical plants
that, if built, will emit massive amounts of greenhouse gases. The
Washington-based Environmental Integrity Project said hydraulic
fracturing has resulted in a boom -- United States has begun exporting
gas.
The group calculated that if
44 large-scale petrochemical developments proposed or permitted in 2015
were built they would spew as much pollution as 19 new coal-fired power
plants would. All these projects potentially could pump about 86
million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year. That would be an increase of 16 percent for the industry's emissions in 2014, the report found.
The
report combined new natural gas, fertilizer and chemical plants and
petroleum refinery expansions projects. Natural gas is a prime
ingredient in ammonia, a basic element in fertilizers.
Similarly, the report said natural gas is important for chemical manufacturers of plastics and other products.”
***First Gas Leaves USA For Europe
“The INEOS Intrepid, the world's largest LNG multi gas carrier, today left the Markus Hook terminal near Philadelphia bound for Norway carrying 27,500m3 of US shale gas ethane.
This is
the first time that US shale gas has ever been shipped to Europe and
represents the culmination of a long-term investment by INEOS.
The
shale gas is cooled to -90ºC (-130ºF) for the journey of 3,800 miles,
which is expected to take nine to ten days. US shale gas will
complement the reducing gas feed from the North Sea.
Jim
Ratcliffe, chairman and founder of INEOS, says, "This is an important
day for INEOS and Europe. We know that shale gas economics revitalized
US manufacturing and for the first time Europe can access this important
energy and raw material source too" http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/energy/2016/03/first-ethane-shipment-from-marcellus-heads-europe.html
***“Fracking Linked to Increased Infant Mortality in Alarming Study”
(This study was not publicized in the media. Nor
were several other studies that indicate a link between fracking and
perinatal mortality, low weight births, premature births and cancer in
children. jan)
“Pennsylvania has issued more than 10,000 drilling permits over the past
decade. Infants and children may be paying a heavy price.
A
study has linked fracking to a higher incidence in infant mortality,
perinatal mortality, low-weight births, premature births and cancer in
infants and children.
Funded
by the Pittsburgh Foundation and written by Joe Mangano, co-founder and
president of the Radiation and Public Health Project, a nonprofit
educational and scientific organization that studies the relationship
between low-level, nuclear radiation and public health, the study
used data from state agencies to examine eight heavily fracked counties
in Pennsylvania — four in the northeast and four in the southwest region
of the state, counties that account for the majority of the state's
natural gas drill wells and gas production. In all categories but child
cancer, increases were greater in the northeast counties than they were
in the four southwest counties.
"The
information presented in this report supports the hypothesis of a link
between exposure to toxic chemicals released in fracking and increased
risk of disease and death," writes Mangano. "While it is virtually
impossible to estimate a 'dose' to a community from chemicals generated
by fracking, it is clear that residents of
the eight most-fracked counties received far greater exposures than
those in the rest of Pennsylvania."
Analyzing publicly available data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health
and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mangano found
that, since the early 2000s and compared to the rest of the state, the
heavily-fracked counties have seen a rise in infant mortality (13.9
percent), perinatal mortality (23.6 percent), low-weight births (3.4
percent), premature births/gestation less than 32 weeks (12.4 percent)
and cancer incidence in age 0-4 (35.1 percent).
Mangano
asserts that the advent of large-scale fracking "has added considerable
amounts of toxic chemicals into the environment, including various
greenhouse gases and radiation. While potential health consequences of
fracking has been become a national issue, very little research on
health trends among affected populations has been conducted."
Over the
past decade, Pennsylvania and other parts of the U.S. have seen a rapid
rise in fracking operations. Between January 1, 2005, and March 2,
2012, the Pennsylvania DEP issued 10,232 drilling permits, and denied
only 36 requests.
With 66
operators currently drilling 7,788 active wells, fracking has
dramatically changed the landscape of northeastern and southwestern
Pennsylvania. So too has the scientific evidence of fracking's negative
impact on public health. The fracking process produces diesel
particulate matter, the exposure of which may lead to asthma, headaches,
high blood pressure, anemia, congenital hearth defects, heart attacks
and cancer.
Fracking has also been linked to drinking water pollution and the release of radon gas, a known carcinogenic.
Some 600 chemicals are used in fracking fluid, including known
carcinogens and toxins such as lead, benzene, uranium, radium, methanol,
mercury, hydrochloric acid, ethylene glycol and formaldehyde.
Epidemiological studies on the effect of fracking on infants
and children can be more useful than similar studies on adults. "Any
environmentally-caused health problems in the very young are the result
of a recent insult, while health problems in adults can be a result of a
much earlier exposure with a long lag period before the disease is
diagnosed," Mangano notes. "The very young are most susceptible to the
harmful effects of environmental radiation, so any unusual patterns in
morbidity or mortality would show up quickest in these groups."
Clearly, there are problems with the methods used in Pennsylvania: Between January
2009 and March 2015, fracking operators in the state have been issued
more than 4,000 violations with fines totaling $6.1 million.
"The
abstract is alarming," said Rebecca Roter, founder and chairperson of
Breathe Easy Susquehanna County (BESC), a nonpartisan community advocacy
group based in Montrose, Pennsylvania, seeking to reduce air pollution
from natural gas drilling. Roter, who wrote a letter in support of
Mangano's grant application for the study, advocates working with the
oil and gas industry to achieve a common good: clean air. "It doesn’t
matter what side of the issue of drilling you are on: you are breathing,
too. We can all agree on maintaining air quality.”
Frack Links
***Link to Shalefield Stories-Personal stories of those affected by fracking http://www.friendsoftheharmed.com/
***To sign up for Skytruth notifications of activity and violations for your area:
*** List of the Harmed--There
are now over 1400 residents of Pennsylvania who have placed their names
on the list of the harmed when they became sick after fracking began in
their area. http://pennsylvaniaallianceforcleanwaterandair.wordpress.com/the-list/
*** To See Water Test Results of the Beaver Run Reservoir
IUP students test for TDS, pH, metals- arsenic, chromium, and strontium.
We have not seen
results for other frack chemicals including the organics BTEX group, or
cesium for example. Here is a link to the IUP site:
For more information contact Jan Milburn
--
