http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/35849-will-pennsylvania-cut-oil-and-gas-air-pollution
[links and video in on-line article]
Will Pennsylvania Cut Oil and Gas Air Pollution?
Friday, 29 April 2016 00:00
By Nadia Steinzor, Earthworks | News Analysis
Oil and gas field residents ask important questions, such as "Are the
wells and facilities polluting the air?" and "Is that why I'm sick?"
Unfortunately, industry representatives and some elected officials often
give dismissive answers, like "Natural gas is clean" and "There's only
anecdotal evidence of health problems."
Well, hundreds of peer-reviewed studies and much community air testing
later, it's getting harder to hide an essential fact: oil and gas
development causes air (and water) pollution and harms health.
Increasingly, there's also visual evidence, thanks to infrared cameras
that make pollution invisible to the naked eye, visible to the world.
On April 28, Earthworks released a video that clearly demonstrates why
stronger protections against oil and gas air pollution are needed. It
shares the stories of three Pennsylvania residents living with wells,
compressor stations, and pipelines. David Brown of the Southwest
Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project also weighs in on the risks of
exposure to air pollution.
Earthworks created the video as part of a broad effort with partner
organizations to secure state and federal protections against oil and
gas air pollution. Earlier this year, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf
announced a proposal to curb methane emissions from gas wells,
equipment, and processing and transmission facilities. The state clearly
has a problem: in 2014 alone, oil and gas producers reported releasing
100,000 metric tons of methane pollution, enough to heat nearly 65,000
homes.
Addressing methane also means curbing a host of health-harming
pollutants released along with it. There's nitrogen oxide, which causes
smog and in turn respiratory problems, as well as hazardous substances
such as benzene, a known carcinogen, and toluene, which is related to
kidney and liver problems. And at 86 times more potent a greenhouse gas
than carbon dioxide, methane reductions are necessary to combat climate
change.
"As a mother living with fracking in my community, I'm deeply concerned
about the impacts that air pollution from shale gas development has on
the health of children -- who are particularly vulnerable, as they are
still developing," says Patrice Tomcik of the Mars Parent Group in
Butler County. "Harmful pollution can be emitted during all stages of
gas development. My children and all families living near existing gas
development will benefit from cutting methane along with toxic
co-pollutants. Pennsylvania's children deserve a healthy environment
today and for years to come."
It remains to be seen when Pennsylvania's methane proposals will be
finalized, what they will accomplish, and the degree to which operators
will be held accountable for the pollution they cause. Strong public
involvement will be necessary to ensure that the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) issues binding measures covering both
existing and new sources of pollution and a wide range of processes and
facilities, and is empowered with the staff and resources needed to
enforce them.
The oil and gas industry and some Pennsylvania legislators are currently
hoping to derail popular well site regulations that have been in the
works for over four years. They could try to do the same and stop any
new air pollution rules as well -- which is why there's no time to waste
in taking action.
"The gas and oil industry likes to paint communities and the people that
speak out against environmental violations, half truths, and health
impacts as radicals," says Lois Bower-Bjornson of Washington County, PA.
"I ask you, who are the radicals? The oil and gas industry is being
allowed to radically alter our lives, properties, and health forever.
It's high time the state takes action."
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