Presentations Posted From 2025 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Featuring Health Experts, Scientists, Advocacy Groups, Workers On Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development

The presentation videos from the 2025 Shale Gas and Public Health Conference hosted by the Physicians for Social Responsibility PA, the League of Women Voters of PA, and the Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering at Duquesne University are now available online.

Attended by nearly 480 people in-person and online, the Conference brought together scientists, public health experts, industry leaders, and advocacy groups to explore the latest research and insights on unconventional oil and gas development, its environmental impact and associated health risks, and community wins and responses.

More than a dozen speakers and panelists presented the latest findings on the health effects of shale gas production from frontline citizens and industry workers.

Click Here to watch the videos.

The videos are also listed here--

Research & Health Studies

-- ​Mary Willis, PhD​: Early Epidemiological Results into Oil and Gas Development from a Prospective Preconception Cohort Study​

-- ​​Cyndhia Ramatchandirane, MS​, Fighting back against the “blue” hydrogen buildout in Cancer Alley, Louisiana​

-- ​​Eric Lebel, PhD​: Emissions Assessment of Petrochemical Facilities​

​Health Panel moderated by James Fabisiak, PhD​

Radiation and Waste

-- ​​Justin Nobel​: Petroleum 238​

-- ​Justin Makey, PhD​: Geochemistry of produced waters sourced from the Marcellus Shale: Lithium resource potential, infrastructure impacts, and NORM risk realities​

Keynote

-- ​Bob Donnan​ :15 Years of Shale Gas Development Through My Camera Lens​

-- ​Ron Gulla : Keynote presentation​

Water Resources and Contamination

-- ​Jennifer Baka, PhD​, An Analysis of Water Quality in the Oldest Hydrocarbon Basin in the USA​

-- ​​John Stolz, PhD​: Contamination of Private Water Supplies After a Well Communication Event​

-- ​​Steven Jansto, PhD:​ Considerations to Address Corrosion Risk with Carbon Capture Transportation & Sequestration​

Community Wins and Solutions

-- ​Full Panel on Community Wins and Alternative Solutions​

-- ​​Gillian Graber: Success in our work​

-- ​Patricia DeMarco : Zoning Ordinances Regulating Oil & Gas Development in PA Communities​

-- ​​Rachel Pecharka - Expanding Solar Access in LMI Communities ​

-- ​​Lois Bower-Bjornson : Frackland​

-- ​Matt Mehalik, PhD : Air Quality in SWPA “Wins"

Highlighted Remarks

PA Environment Digest also highlighted the remarks of several speakers at the Conference on these important issues--

-- Dr. Pouné Saberi, MD Speaks On How Healthcare Providers Can Better Serve Individuals Exposed To Health Threats From Shale Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- Alison Steele, Environmental Health Project - The Science Is In, Shale Gas Development Harming Public Health - Arming People To Prevent, Reduce Harm  [PaEN] 

-- Lois Bower-Bjornson - What Its Like Living In Frackland - Residents Talk About Dealing With The Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas  [PaEN] 

-- Bob Donnan - 15 Years Of Shale Gas Development Through My Camera Lens [PaEN] 

-- Gillian Graber, Protect PT -- We Need To Work Together, Pool Our Knowledge To Push Back Against This Industry That's Harming Our Communities [PaEN] 

    Visit the PA League of Women Voters  Shale Gas and Public Health in 2025 - New Directions webpage for videos of the Conference presentations.

Resource Links - Health:

-- Part I - Environmental Impacts: State Dept. Of Health, Penn State Medical Webinars On Caring For Persons Living & Working In Communities With Oil & Natural Gas Extraction  [PaEN]

-- Part II - Health Impacts: State Dept. Of Health, Penn State Medical Webinars On Caring For Persons Living & Working In Communities With Oil & Natural Gas Extraction  [PaEN]

-- 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]

-- State Dept. Of Health Apologizes For Not Listening To Communities Suffering Health Impacts From Shale Gas Development; New Health Study Results ‘Just The Tip Of The Iceberg’  [PaEN] 

-- State Health Plan Identified Oil & Gas Development As Health Risk Last Year; Environmental Health Indicators Map Is Now Available To Show Potential Risks Near You [PaEN]

-- Presentations Posted From 2025 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Featuring Health Experts, Scientists, Advocacy Groups, Workers On Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development  [PaEN] 

-- Presentations Now Available From 2022 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference In Nov. Hosted By PA League Of Women Voters & University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health  [PaEN]

-- Fact Sheet: How Oil and Gas Operations Impact Your Baby’s Health

-- Frackland Video Tour, with Lois Bower-Bjornson, Clean Air Council

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station  [PaEN] 

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA’s Dr. Ned Ketyer Shares Summary Of Studies Of Shale Gas Development Impacts On Human Health [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]

-- Senate Hearing: Body Of Evidence Is 'Large, Growing,’ ‘Consistent’ And 'Compelling' That Shale Gas Development Is Having A Negative Impact On Public Health; PA Must Act  [PaEN]

-- DEP Determines Rulemaking Petition Submitted By Environmental, Health Groups To Adopt More Protective Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells Is An Action The Environmental Quality Board Has Statutory Authority To Take [PaEN]

-- Cecil Township Supervisors In Washington County Adopt 2,500 Setback From Shale Gas Well Pads From Homes, Businesses, 5,000 Foot Setback From Hospitals, Schools  [PaEN]

-- Range Resources And MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges To The 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Facility Setback Ordinance Adopted By Cecil Township, Washington County  [PaEN] 

-- The Energy Age Blog: Range Resources & MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges Against 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Setback Ordinance In Cecil Twp., Washington County

-- Cecil Township Supervisors Direct Solicitor To Prepare Ordinance Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads By At Least 2,500 Feet; Another Hearing, Vote Expected Nov. 4   [9.9.24]   [Hearing Summary]

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’  [PaEN] 

-- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta Introduce SB 581 Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Other Infrastructure, Based On Latest Science  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: Setback Distances And The Regulations We Need To Protect Public Health From Oil & Gas Facilities  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP To Host April 1 Webinar On New Program To Reduce Methane Pollution From Oil And Gas Operations  [PaEN] 

-- Environmental Health Project To Hold April 1 Webinar On What The Shapiro Administration Can Do To Better Protect Public Health From The Impacts Of Shale Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project Seeking Communities To Participate In HealthWatch Program To Better Understand Local Health Impacts Of Shale Gas Development  [PaEN] 

-- Presentations Posted From 2025 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Featuring Health Experts, Scientists, Advocacy Groups, Workers On Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development  [PaEN] 

-- Center For Coalfield Justice To DEP: Harmon Natural Gas Processing Plant Should Be Required To Apply For A Full Title V Air Quality Permit As They Originally Proposed In Washington County [PaEN] 

-- Capital And Main - Audrey Carleton: The Little Town Of Cecil Township, Washington County That Stood Up To Big Shale Gas And Set More Protective Setback Distances And Now Faces Legal Challenges From 2 Shale Gas Drillers

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves New Into-Basin Transfer General Permit, Water Withdrawals, Including 6 Shale Gas Development Water Withdrawals  [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: Hearing Dates Set On Rhodes Estates Water Companies; PUC Judge Urges Parties To ‘Seriously Explore’ Settlements [Venango Water Co. Impacted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill]   [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension: April 2 Webinar: Gravity Energy Storage -  Giving Inactive Oil Wells A Second Life  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Research: Reusing Old Oil And Gas Wells For Energy Storage Using Compressed Air Technology  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: PA Attorney General Launches Criminal Investigation Into Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Spill In Bucks County 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Shapiro Administration Plugs 300 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Across PA

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer/Kristen Graham: Philadelphia Gas Works Explores Heating, Cooling Philly School And City Rec Center With Geothermal Energy

-- The Hill: Texas Workers Face Mounting Dangers In The Heart Of America’s Greatest Oil & Gas Boom  [Part I]  

-- The Hill: Deregulation Push By President, Texas Republicans Sparks Hope And Fear In The Oil & Gas Fields  [Part II] 

-- The Hill:  Texans Grapple With Rising Toxic Pollution As Oil, Gas Production Booms  [Part III]  

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Prices Up On Record Flows To LNG Gas Export Plants 

-- Bloomberg: ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Mantra Set To Make US LNG Gas Exports Less Competitive 

-- Reuters: US EIA Reports US Natural Gas Pipeline Completions Boosted LNG Gas Takeaway Capacity For 2 Years In A Row 

-- Bloomberg Opinion: Cheaper Power Is Too ‘Woke’ For Texas Republicans; State Debating Bills To Boost Natural Gas, Restrain Renewables

[Posted: March 20, 2025]  PA Environment Digest