As regulators investigate and lawmakers lament the Feb. 3 train derailment at the Ohio-Pennsylvania border that released carloads of toxic chemicals, state officials have expressed far less concern about the largest natural gas leak in state history.
In November, the 13-day leak at an Equitrans Midstream Corp. gas storage facility in Jackson Twp., Cambria County, released massive amounts of methane.
The Guardian, which reported the leak as part of a story on global methane emissions, used satellite data.
It estimated that the Pennsylvania leak was the second-largest of about 1,000 nationwide, “equivalent to planet-warming emissions from burning more than 1,080 rail cars of coal or from running 360,000 cars for a year.”
Methane is a powerful contributor to atmospheric warming. Though it is far less abundant than carbon dioxide, it is about 80 times more efficient at trapping heat in the atmosphere, thus accounting for about 25% of warming.
The better news is that methane does not last as long as carbon dioxide, so climate scientists have targeted reduced methane emissions as a primary means to produce short-term reductions in warming.
In addition to harming the atmosphere, the massive leak also caused short-term health problems for nearby residents.
“It sounded like two jets were directly above my house,” Doug Harrison, 50, told The Guardian. “I swear to God I thought this is it.” Residents reported headaches, lightheadedness, sore throats, nasal burning, nausea and more.
Like the train wreck, the leak remains under investigation. And, like the train wreck, it points to regulatory failures.
In Pennsylvania, the natural gas industry’s growth and production have far outpaced the Department of Environmental Protection’s ability to regulate it — all the more so because industry proponents in the Legislature have underfunded the agency.
Meanwhile, environmental activists have complained of inadequate transparency regarding the state government’s efforts to diminish another major source of methane leaks — abandoned and orphaned gas wells.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Legislature should beef up the DEP’s ability to regulate methane emissions and related public safety concerns.
And Auditor General Timothy DeFoor should audit the DEP’s well-capping program to help ensure its effectiveness.
(Photo: Equitrans natural gas leak from space, Environmental Defense Fund.)
Resource Links:
-- The Guardian: One Of The Worst Global Methane Leaks In 2022 Was In PA - Equitrans In Cambria County; Routine Abandonment, Non-Compliance Of Conventional Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- DEP Methane Overflight Research Study Resulted In Voluntary Reductions In Oil & Gas, Landfill Facilities; Coal Industry Uncooperative [PaEN]
-- DEP Oil & Gas Advisory Board Meets March 13 To Hear Updates On Regulation Of Natural Gas Storage Areas, Chapter 78 Regs; Federal Well Plugging Program, Carbon Capture, Hydrogen Development [PaEN]
NewsClip:
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Greene County House That Exploded In 2018 From Natural Gas Leak Stands As A Monument To Leaking Gas Pipelines, Leaking Gas Wells, Leaking Gas Storage Areas
Related Articles - Cambria County Leak:
-- DEP Has Ordered A ‘Top To Bottom Review’ Of How It Regulates Underground Natural Gas Storage Areas As A Result Of The Equitrans Gas Leak In Cambria County In Nov. [12.1.22]
-- UPDATED: After 14 Days, Efforts To Stop A Natural Gas Leak At A Cambria County Underground Gas Storage Area Have Apparently Been Successful [11.20.22]
PA Oil & Gas
-- Feature: 60 Years Of Fracking, 20 Years Of Shale Gas: Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Industrial Infrastructure Is Hiding In Plain Sight [PaEN]
-- Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Haven’t Filed Annual Production/Waste Generation Reports For 61,655 Wells; Attorney General Continues Investigation Of Road Dumping Wastewater [PaEN]
-- DEP Issued 754 Notices Of Violation For Defective Oil & Gas Well Casing, Cementing, The Fundamental Protection Needed To Prevent Gas Migration, Groundwater & Air Contamination, Explosions [PaEN]
-- DEP 2021 Oil & Gas Program Annual Report Shows Conventional Oil & Gas Operators Received A Record 610 Notices Of Violation For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them [PaEN]
-- Gov. Wolf, Senate, House Republicans Again Fail To Hold Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Accountable For Protecting The Environment, Taxpayers On Hook For Billions [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: 3 Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Groups File Lawsuit To Block Rule Limiting VOC/Methane Emissions From Conventional Oil & Gas Facilities [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Rep. Greg Vitali Named Majority Chair Of House Environmental Committee; House Appoints Committee Members [PaEN]
-- Rep. Fiedler, Labor Leaders, Educational, Environmental Leaders Announce Bill To Create Grant Program To Invest In Solar Energy Facilities At Schools [PaEN]
-- U.S. EIA: 'Increasing Electricity Generation From Renewable Sources Contributes To Lower Power Prices' In 2023 [PaEN]
-- Bill Setting Decommissioning Rules For Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facilities Passes The Senate [PaEN]
-- Senate Passes Bill Blocking Local Elected Officials From Moving To Cleaner Energy Sources To Combat Climate Change [PaEN]
-- Sen. Yaw Proposes Independent Energy Office To Promote Development Of PA’s Diverse Energy Portfolio - Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Coal [PaEN]
-- The Guardian: One Of The Worst Global Methane Leaks In 2022 Was In PA - Equitrans In Cambria County; Routine Abandonment, Non-Compliance Of Conventional Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- U.S. Senate Hearing: Energy, Environmental Impacts Of Cryptocurrency Mining In Pennsylvania [PaEN]
-- Republicans On Senate Committee Report Out Bill Allowing General Assembly To Kill Regulations By Doing Nothing [PaEN]
-- Norfolk Southern CEO To Appear March 20 Before PA Senate Committee To Answer Questions About Ohio/PA Train Derailment; Committee Subpoenas Documents [PaEN]
[Posted: March 10, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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