Fracking failures lead to environmental harm
Comment: These events appear to have happened on Paul Goodfellow’s watch?: According to his current Linked-in profile Goodfellow was Shell VP Unconventionals from 2012-2013
FROM AN ARTICLE BY SUSY KELLY PUBLISHED 28 JAN 2015 BY THE HERALD-STANDARD UNDER THE HEADLINE:
“Report: Fracking failures lead to environmental harm in area and state”
Extract
A report released Tuesday by a nonprofit environmental research group shows that despite assurances to the contrary, companies who develop unconventional natural gas wells have polluted the environment in Pennsylvania and will continue to do so under current regulatory standards.
In April 2013, EQT, Chevron Appalachia, Consol and Shell formed the Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD), promising not only that safe, sustainable shale resource development was possible, but that they would do it of their own accord, according to the report. Data from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shows those four companies failed to uphold state requirements at least 100 times, according to PennEnvironment’s research.
The report illustrates how drilling activity poses risks to water supplies, air quality, and human health.
“There are at least 243 documented cases of contaminated drinking water supplies across Pennsylvania between December 2007 and August 2014 due to fracking activities, according to (DEP),” the report states. “Beyond affecting drinking water supplies, fracking also produces vast amounts of toxic wastewater that must be stored, transported and ultimately disposed of – posing the threat of water contamination at each step.”
Regarding air quality, the report notes, “Air pollutants are released during at least 15 different parts of the oil and gas development process. Many of the chemicals used in fracking are known air pollutants, and wastewater produced from fracking operations includes volatile compounds that can evaporate into the air, and have been linked to human health problems.”
“A 2010 study by (DEP) found elevated levels of ethane, propane and benzene – all toxics associated with fracking – in the air near Marcellus Shale drilling operations. Impoundment ponds where fracking waste water is stored are also sources of air pollution, as chemicals evaporate from the open-air pits.”
The researchers suggested that the best course of action to protect the environment and public health would be to follow New York’s lead and ban fracking.
The TRUTH will set you FREE.
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