Talor Musil, a Field Manager for the Environmental Health Project, said the health studies “were conducted in response to an outcry of concern from those experiencing firsthand the health harms linked to fracking pollution exposure.”
“The Department of Health commissioned three studies on asthma, childhood cancer, and birth outcomes.”
She said they “affirmed the lived experiences of people who are living with asthma exacerbations, children with cancer, and infants with low birth weights.”
“These are among more than two dozen epidemiological studies that have shown a correlation between fracking and a host of health risks for people living nearby these operations,” she explained.
“They contributed to a body of literature that's unable to demonstrate that shale gas development can be done safely and without impact on human health.”
Soon after the release of the University of Pittsburgh studies, the second highest official in the state Department of Health took the unusual step of issuing an apology to residents in shale gas areas for not taking their concerns more seriously. Read more here.
“While these studies were underway, coordinated action to protect residents was delayed,” said Musil.
“The DOH under the Wolf Administration's guidance hinged the beginnings of any education and awareness efforts on the study's findings.”
Follow-Up Steps
Musil explained, “In August, 2023, the DOH hosted a community meeting to discuss the results of the Pitt study. The meeting lasted over two hours with most of that time dedicated to a question and answer session with their staff and the University of Pittsburgh researchers.
“Throughout the event, DOH leadership expressed that they would be taking action and response to the findings.”
“They listed the following next steps in a presentation they provided.
-- “First, healthcare provider education, including guidance for these providers on oil and gas pollution exposure and continuing education credits for participating in activities related to these topics.
-- “Second, air quality education for school staff, students, and parents.
-- “Third, a new environmental health complaint form.
-- “Fourth, a new DOH literature review on the associations between fracking and health impacts.
-- “Fifth, a review of data and to monitor cancer rates in fracking areas to determine any correlations between this pollution and health harms.
-- “Lastly, cross agency collaboration, particularly with the Department of Environmental Protection to protect the health of all residents and share educational information.”
“To date, progress on these next steps, to our knowledge, has been extremely limited. Two of these commitments have been met,” said Musil.
Environmental Complaint Form
“First, the new environmental health complaint form and increased cross-agency collaboration. In the last year, there was a new environmental health complaint form by the DOH released, and that was linked to the DEP's complaint form,” said Musil.
“We have received reports from residents saying that when those complaints were submitted, that the DOH was more responsive since these changes. Additionally, the DOH has sent leadership and other staff members to meet with residents at their homes to learn more about their lived experiences.”
Health Guidance, Research
“Disseminating public health guidance and research are critical functions of the Department of Health,” said Musil.
“Neither has yet taken place in relation to these three studies or any shale gas development topics.
“This ultimately indicates a lack of leadership by Gov. Shapiro, as mentioned earlier, to defend the health and safety of Pennsylvanians,” said Musil.
Governor’s Silence
“The most troubling beyond the lack of progress of these health education and awareness goals is Gov. Shapiro's silence,” said Musil.
“Not only has he remained silent on the studies and their results, but has also partnered with a shale gas extraction company, CNX, on a self-regulation initiative mentioned earlier.” [Read more here]
“This collaboration serves as another delay on health protective action under the false pretense of needing more data to determine if fracking poses any threat to public health.”
“Last month, there was a report released on their initial findings from their air monitoring project, claiming that there are no public health risks with a photo of Gov. Shapiro at the top of the report to imply an endorsement from their administration of the findings.” [Read more here]
“The report even went so far as to directly attack the Pitt studies, incorrectly comparing CNX's months-long analysis of emission data with the Pitt study's multi-year assessment of health outcomes.”
“Since taking office, Gov. Shapiro has not meaningfully addressed the health concerns of Pennsylvania residents living near shale gas development, which he affirmed so clearly when he was Pennsylvania's Attorney General.”
“His actions and inactions indicate a concerning trend, being unresponsive to the pleas of residents whose health has been harmed and minimizing serious health risks still at play across the state.” said Musil.
For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Environmental Health Project website or follow them on Facebook or Twitter. Click Here to sign up for regular updates.
Visit the Department of Health’s Oil and Natural Gas Production Health Concerns webpage for more information.
Upcoming Events
-- September 19-- Virtual. Southwestern PA Community, Health Organizations To Hold Sept. 19 Webinar - One Year After Pitt Shale Gas Health Impacts Studies And The Failure To Fulfill Essential Promises Made To Residents. 6:00 p.m.
-- September 24-- Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts Program In Washington County On Increasing Setbacks From Oil & Gas Infrastructure
Related Articles This Week:
-- Cecil Township, Washington County Posts Proposed Ordinance Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads Of 2,500 Feet From Homes, Businesses; 5,000 Feet From Schools, Hospitals; Nov. 4 Hearing, Meeting Set [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: State Dept. Of Health Progress On Implementing Recommendations After Pitt Health Studies Show Impacts From Shale Gas Development ‘Extremely Limited’ [PaEN]
-- Exploding Water Well Shed Triggers DEP Investigation Of 59+ Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Cyclone, McKean County; Highlights Limits On Providing Temporary Water For Well Owners Impacted [PaEN]
-- Protect PT: Westmoreland Landfill Surrenders Air Quality Permit For An Evaporator System To Dispose Of Leachate Wastewater Impacted By Shale Gas Drilling Waste [PaEN]
-- Del-Chesco United For Pipeline Safety: Texas Explosion Shows Communities In PA With Energy Transfer's Mariner East Pipeline And Other Pipelines Are Vulnerable To The Same Unmitigated Risk From Unsecured Pipeline Valves [PaEN]
-- Southwestern PA Community, Health Organizations To Hold Sept. 19 Webinar - One Year After Pitt Shale Gas Health Impacts Studies And The Failure To Fulfill Essential Promises Made To Residents [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Energy Age Blog: North Fayette Residents Raise Concerns About Proposed Range Resources Fracking Site In Allegheny County
Resource Links- Oil & Gas Health, Environmental Impacts:
-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Studies Find Shale Gas Wells Can Make Asthma Worse; Children Have An Increased Chance Of Developing Lymphoma Cancer; Slightly Lower Birth Weights [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project Finds Results ‘Very Concerning’ From University Of Pittsburgh Studies Showing Links Between Natural Gas Development And Lymphoma Cancer, Worsening Asthma Conditions, Lower Birth Weights [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro: We Need Stronger Laws To Deal With The ‘Corporate Greed’ That Let Oil & Gas Operators Get Away With Abandoning Wells For Far Too Long [PaEN]
-- 9th Compendium Of Studies On Health & Environmental Harms From Natural Gas Development Released - ‘The Rapidly Expanding Body Of Evidence Compiled Here Is Massive, Troubling And Cries Out For Decisive Action’ [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: CNX Resources Claims Shale Gas Drilling Poses No Public Health Risks Are ‘Misleading, Irresponsible, Dangerous’ [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: Gov. Shapiro’s Record On Shale Gas And Health - A Look At The Grand Jury Recommendations One Year In [PaEN]
-- Physicians For Social Responsibility - PA: Gov. Shapiro And The Fossil Fuel Industry - Abandoning Climate Science For Industry Support [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project Contributes To New Book On Sustainable Development & Rural Public Health - From Fossil Fuels To Greener Futures [PaEN]
-- House Committee Reports Out Bills To Ban Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater; Prohibit Use Of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals’ In Consumer Products [PaEN]
-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Bill Banning Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater, Prohibiting Its Use As Coproduct Under Residual Waste Regulations [PaEN]
-- House Hearing: Penn State Expert Says ‘Pennsylvania Should Ban Road Spreading Of Oil & Gas Wastewater;’ Contaminants Exceed Health, Environmental Standards [PaEN]
-- House Hearing: Penn State Center For Dirt & Gravel Road Studies Says Road Spreading Oil & Gas Wastewater Is Not An Effective Dust Suppressant, Does Not Meet Environmental Testing Standards [PaEN]
-- House Hearing: A First-Hand Account Of How Repeated, Unlimited Road Dumping Of Oil & Gas Drilling Wastewater Is Tearing Apart Dirt Roads And Creating Multiple Environmental Hazards [PaEN]
-- House Hearing: Protect PT - Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater ‘Is Disproportionately Responsible For Negative Impacts On Human Health,’ Especially From Radioactive Radium [PaEN]
-- House Hearing: On Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘We Studied This For Nearly 30 Years And The Conclusions Are The Same - The Wastewater Contains Harmful Contaminants’ [PaEN]
-- Senate Hearing: The Case For An Immediate, Total Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater [PaEN]
-- Senate Hearing: Penn State Expert: ‘No More Research That Needs To Be Done’ To Justify A Ban On Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater [PaEN]
-- Senate Hearing: First-Hand Account Of Health, Environmental Impacts From Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘Inhaling Oil & Gas Wastewater 24-Hours A Day’ [PaEN]
-- Senate Hearing: 3.5 Million Gallons Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Dumped On PA Public Roads Since DEP’s ‘Moratorium’ On Dumping Started 6 Years Ago [PaEN]
-- DEP Imposed $2.2 Million In Penalties Against Shale Gas Drilling, Pipeline Companies In 2023 For Violations Dating Back To 2018 [PaEN]
-- DEP Imposed $422,365 In Penalties On 14 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Operators In 2023 For Abandoning Wells, Spills, Venting Gas; 93 Operators Cited For Abandoning 271 Wells [PaEN]
-- Feature: 60 Years Of Fracking, 20 Years Of Shale Gas: Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Industrial Infrastructure Is Hiding In Plain Sight [PaEN]
-- We’ve Heard This Before: ‘We’re Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens Jobs’ - A Brief Review Of Pennsylvania’s Conservation History [PaEN]
Related Articles - Personal Stories:
-- Washington County Family Lawsuit Alleges Shale Gas Company Violated The Terms Of Their Lease By Endangering Their Health, Contaminating Their Water Supply And Not Protecting Their Land [PaEN]
-- No One Warned A Cameron County Family Their Water Well Was Contaminated By A Seneca Resources Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Rupture [PaEN]
-- Senate Hearing: First-Hand Account Of Health, Environmental Impacts From Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘Inhaling Oil & Gas Wastewater 24-Hours A Day’ [PaEN]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- DEP Finds Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Sprayed & Leaked 12,600+ Gallons For Nearly 3 Hours In Gilmore Twp., Greene County [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Violation To Apex Energy (PA) LLC For Failure To Submit List Of Fracking Chemicals For 37 Shale Gas Wells Over 6 Years In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- DEP Declares 21 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Owned By Schreiner Oil & Gas Inc. Abandoned, Not Plugged In Erie, McKean Counties; 747 Violations For Conventional Well Abandonment This Year [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 14 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 82 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 14 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
[Posted: September 17, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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