PA Environment Digest Blog: Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Kim Anderson, Evangelical Environmental Network - Rager Mountain Leak Of 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas

The Department of Environmental Protection is in the middle of holding eight hearings on a state plan to implement an EPA federal rule 40 CFR Part 60, Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc Reducing Emissions Of Methane and Other Pollution from conventional oil and gas and shale gas operations. Read more here.

This testimony was submitted by Kim Anderson, Director of Member Mobilization, Evangelical Environmental Network and Cambria County resident--

In Mark Chapter 10, when children were brought to Jesus, he said “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

I have recently learned of ways that my children have been exposed to methane and other toxics.

During the years my children were learning to walk, talk, read and write, they were living and/or going to daycare near leaking wells and failing infrastructure.

I live in Cambria County, Pennsylvania which recently made national news for a massive leak at a storage well.

[Note: Equitrans Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area leak of 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas.]

After detection, the leak was not properly plugged for almost two weeks.

In that time, it is estimated that the well emitted the near-term warming equivalent generated by 360,000 cars in one year

In just TWO WEEKS!

Local residents reported being able to hear and smell the gas leak as far as 2 miles away. Some reported headaches and difficulty breathing when they were outside.

The problem is that much of the oil and gas infrastructure in our state is old and at risk of failing like this well.

Living and going to school within a half mile threat radius is associated with negative health outcomes like respiratory and heart diseases and increased exposure to known cancer causing chemicals.

Methane is also responsible for 25% of the human-produced warming we experience today.

With rising temperatures come increased smog and associated asthma attacks and increased cases of vector-borne diseases like Lyme Disease.

I am a hiker and have seen ticks in the woods near my home as early in the year as February and as late in the year as November.

Pennsylvania consistently ranks in the top ten worst states for Lyme Disease - most often placing first or second.

Was the health of my children impacted because of exposure during their formative years?

Are we hindering children from coming to the kingdom of God by exposing them to these toxics which impact their health?

As a citizen of Western Pennsylvania, a place which has benefited economically from coal and oil production for decades, I understand the economic impact that this has had on our community.

But this has come at the cost borne on the hearts, minds, and lungs of the men,

women, children and energy workers who have called the region home.

We must make energy in ways that do not have severe health impacts on people like me who live here.

Fortunately there are actions we can take to avoid situations like this for other children by strengthening methane safeguards and thus defending the life of children like mine.

First, the DEP can ensure the routine and cost-effective monitoring of well sites.

Cutting methane pollution isn’t just good for our environment - it’s a smart economic move.

In 2023, oil and gas operations in our commonwealth wasted $178 million-worth of natural gas – That was enough gas to serve the heating and cooking needs of 820,000 households – more than enough gas for every household in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh combined for one year.

At a time when the country needs to do everything it can to ensure our energy independence, it makes economic sense to ensure that we are not wasting any gas at all!

Second, the DEP can encourage the development of and use of new leak detection technologies. This technology not only can find when gas is leaking, but is also creating jobs in Pennsylvania.

The methane mitigation industry is growing fast, with over 51 locations already employing thousands of Pennsylvanians. This industry is growing every day.

The fossil fuel industry would lead you to believe that these measures will result in lost jobs and would jeopardize our economy. But all of this data shows this is simply not true.

DEP has a chance to support innovation, create good-paying jobs, and reduce energy waste by backing strong methane rules. All while defending the health of the children of our Commonwealth.

Let’s lead the nation in clean energy progress.

What’s more, these changes are supported by Pennsylvanians. A recent poll found that the majority of Pennsylvanians support one of the best ways to slow the current rate of warming - cutting methane pollution.

In fact, this belief is shared by evangelicals throughout the Commonwealth - with 36,391 pro-life Christians saying they support a strong methane rule in Pennsylvania (See Appendix).

Specifically, we call on the DEP to implement standards stronger than EPA’s presumptive standards to further protect frontline residents and reduce climate-warming emissions.

To fulfill its duty to Pennsylvanians, DEP should incorporate the following improvements in the state plan:

-- Require quarterly instrument-based leak monitoring at all well sites that are not considered complex.

-- Include separators in the definition of complex well sites and hold complex well sites to monthly instrument-based inspections.

-- Ensure quick repair timelines for detected leaks to reduce immediate harm to public health, safety, and the environment.

-- Supplement EPA’s Super Emitter Program by engaging with and connecting impacted residents with necessary methane monitoring, health resources, and expertise to better protect public health.

-- Create protective standards that require thorough proof that other options are infeasible before allowing flaring of associated gas for wells of any size.

-- Establish compliance timelines that are as expeditious as practical.

I ask your administration to do all it can to ensure these are durable and resilient to changes at the federal level.

This leak [Rager Mountain] hit way too close to home for me and my family in the last few years.

Please do what you can now to avoid more like them in the future.

And so more parents like me don’t ever wonder whether where their children live, learn and play is safe for them.

Our children and family deserve clean air.

I urge the DEP to quickly finalize this proposal, resulting in a strong state rule in a timely manner.

Thank you for your work on this important matter.

Click Here for a copy of the testimony.

To see other comments submitted on the methane reduction plan, visit DEP’s eComment webpage.

Visit DEP's Reducing Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Operations webpage for information on hearings and how to submit comments. The deadline to submit comments is July 30.

(Photo: Equitrans Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area leak from space courtesy of Environmental Defense Fund.)

Resource Links:

-- DEP Sets 8th Hearing July 22 On State Plan To Implement Federal Rule Requiring Methane Emissions Reductions From Conventional Oil & Gas, Shale Gas Facilities [PaEN]

-- DEP To Use General Permit To Implement New Federal Oil & Gas Facility Methane Reduction Regulation [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Now Operate As Many As 95% Of Conventional Wells To Vent Methane Gas Making It Too Expensive To Comply With New EPA Methane Emission Reduction Regulations [PaEN]

-- PIOGA: DEP’s Plan To Reduce Methane Pollution From Oil & Gas Facilities An ‘Existential Threat’ To The Oil & Gas Industry [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Facility Owners Must Now File A Methane Emissions Compliance Report By June 1, 2025 Required By A 2022 DEP Methane Pollution Reduction Rule As A Result Of Court Settlement [PaEN]

-- EPA Pulls Back Regulations Setting Methane Emission Limits, Regulating Wastewater From Oil & Gas Operations, Risk Management Rule At Petrochemical Plants [PaEN]

Comments On DEP Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Reduction Plan:

-- Shale Gas Industry VP Attacks Credibility Of A Mom And Allegheny County Resident For Comments She Submitted In Support Of DEP Plan To Reduce Methane Emissions From The Oil & Gas Industry [PaEN]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Why Pennsylvanians Must Speak Up For Reducing Oil & Gas Methane Emissions - Kim Anderson, Evangelical Environmental Network

-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Patrice Tomcik, Mother, Butler County Resident And Moms Clean Air Force Member [PaEN]