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Fwd: Colorado School of Public Health Study says Frack Wells can Cause Acute and Chronic Health Problems
by Duane 17 May '12

17 May '12

> From: www.FrackCheckWV.net > Date: May 17, 2012 > > Subject: Colorado School of Public Health Study says Frack Wells can Cause Acute and Chronic Health Problems > > Colorado School of Public Health Study says Frack Wells can Cause Acute and Chronic Health Problems > > Colorado School of Public Health Study says Frack Wells can Cause Acute and Chronic Health Problems > > > “Our data show that it is important to include air pollution in the national dialogue on natural gas development that has focused largely on water exposures to hydraulic fracturing,” said Lisa McKenzie, Ph.D., MPH, lead author of a new report and research associate at the Colorado School of Public Health. > > The report, based on three years of monitoring, found a number of potentially toxic petroleum hydrocarbons in the air near the wells including benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene. Benzene is a well known carcinogen. > > The report, which looked at those living within a half-mile from the wells, comes in response to the rapid expansion of natural gas development in rural Garfield County, in western Colorado. McKenzie analyzed ambient air sample data collected from monitoring stations by the Garfield County Department of Public Health and Olsson Associates Inc. She used standard EPA methodology to estimate non-cancer health impacts and excess lifetime cancer risks for hydrocarbon exposure. > > The report concludes that health risks are greater for people living closest to wells and urges a reduction in those air emissions. Future studies are warranted and should include collection of area, residential and personal exposure data where wells are operating. Additional studies should also examine the toxicity of other hydrocarbons associated with natural gas development. > > This study is entitled “Human Health Risk Assessment of Air Emissions from Development of Unconventional Natural Gas Resources.” It has been accepted for publication in Science of the Total Environment. > > See also the slide presentation by John Adgate, Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Colorado. It is entitled “Air Pollution Exposure and Risk Near Unconventional Natural Gas Drill Sites: Example from Garfield County, Colorado.” > > > NPR: ‘Close Encounters’ With Gas Well Pollution > > Garfield County, Colorado > PART 2. NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO SERIES ON SHALE GAS DRILLING & FRACKING. > > Here is a condensed version of the NPR report: > > Living in the middle of a natural gas boom can be pretty unsettling. The area around the town of Silt, Colo., used to be the kind of sleepy rural place where the tweet of birds was the most you would hear. Now it’s hard to make out the birds because of the rumbling of natural gas drilling rigs. The land here is steep cliffs and valleys. But bare splotches of earth called well pads are all over the place. > > What’s In Those Fumes? > > Nearly a decade ago, Garfield County in Colorado started trying to tackle that question, and was chugging ahead of the whole country in pursuit of scientific truth. Local politician Tresi Houpt was the engine pushing that effort. > > As she started to campaign to be a Garfield County commissioner, she came down from her home on a ski mountain to meet people in ranches, rural neighborhoods with the big blue skies and clear starry nights. She couldn’t believe what she saw: drill rigs right outside homes, armadas of diesel-spewing trucks, fumes wafting from equipment called compressors and condensate tanks. In Colorado, you can have a drill rig 150 feet from homes. > > In 2002, Houpt won her election. And one of the first things she wanted to know was: Did scientists have any answers for what was in the air near wells? > > Houpt and the other commissioners agreed to start spending some of the county’s gas royalties to try to get answers. They brought in Jim Rada to create an environmental health office. “There are pipelines, there are storage yards, compressor stations, gas plants,” he says, as we drive along in his hybrid SUV past thousands of sources of air pollution. Diesel exhaust spews from trucks and drilling rigs. Methane, chemicals that make ozone, and fumes that contain cancer-causing benzene leak from wells and storage tanks. > > Rada figured it would be impossible to track all this pollution, so back in 2005, he set up monitors in towns where most of the people lived. Gadgets on the roof monitor soot, smog and volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs. Years of data from these and other monitors around the county have shown that the industry is putting a lot more chemicals into the air that create smog. But levels of smog and other air pollutants still meet EPA health standards. > > In 2008, he got permission from companies to put air sampling canisters around eight wells that were being drilled. Then, for 24 hours, those canisters captured the chemicals that were coming off the wells. He found very large amounts of chemicals. Some of them, like benzene, can cause cancer. Others, like xylenes, can irritate eyes and lungs. > > Rada’s air monitoring work was rare enough that it was getting attention at some higher levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Colorado’s state public health agency were analyzing his data for answers. > > But they didn’t really find any. For instance, Rada’s eight-well test was just a pilot study. He didn’t test the air long enough or at enough places to know how much chemicals people were really being exposed to. > > At that point, Rada says the job got too big for him. This was 2009. Nearly 3,000 wells had gone in the year before. The county needed help. And its next move turned out to have some pretty painful consequences. > > Rada called in the Colorado School of Public Health to examine whether lots of new drilling within a neighborhood might hurt people’s health. To make their conclusions, the researchers were supposed to use existing studies, such as the county’s monitoring data, and whatever other science they could find. A draft assessment by the school predicted small increases in risks of cancer, headaches and lung ailments. > > People who live near gas wells held up the researchers’ work to attack the industry in lawsuits and in the media. And gas companies fought back. “Both sides were fighting,” recalls John Martin, a longtime county commissioner. “They wanted to use this document in both arguments — that it didn’t hurt anything and that it killed everyone.” > > In May of last year, the commissioners gathered for a meeting and voted to end a contract with the Colorado School of Public Health. Tresi Houpt, who had lost her re-election and wasn’t part of the vote, saw her years of work unraveling. All that momentum the county had built up came to a screeching halt. > > So, 10 years have passed since Houpt first drove around her county, hearing complaints about air pollution and the gas industry. And Garfield County’s 800 gas wells have grown to more than 8,000. People who live near wells — whether they’re in Texas, Pennsylvania or Utah — still don’t know what they’re breathing. > > Houpt believes Garfield County’s saga shows how politics, industry pressure, technical challenges and the slow pace of science have blocked the search for answers — not just for her community, but for the whole country. > > See also this posting in FrackCheckWV.

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American Lung Association Releases ‘State of the Air’ Report: What’s Your City’s Grade? « EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement
by Duane 04 May '12

04 May '12

http://ecowatch.org/2012/american-lung-association-releases-state-of-the-ai… American Lung Association Releases ‘State of the Air’ Report: What’s Your City’s Grade? American Lung Association The American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2012 report released on April 25 finds that in America’s most polluted cities, air quality was at its cleanest since the organization’s annual report began 13 years ago. This year’s report details the trend that standards set under the Clean Air Act to cleanup major air pollution sources—including coal-fired power plants, diesel engines and SUVs—are working to drastically cut ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot) from the air we breathe. Despite this progress, unhealthy levels of air pollution still exist and in some parts of the country worsened. “State of the Air shows that we’re making real and steady progress in cutting dangerous pollution from the air we breathe,” said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association president and CEO. “We owe this to the ongoing protection of the Clean Air Act. But despite these improvements, America’s air quality standards are woefully outdated, and unhealthy levels of air pollution still exist across the nation, putting the health of millions of Americans at stake.” The job of cleaning the air is not finished. More than 40 percent of people in the U.S. live in areas where air pollution continues to threaten their health. That means more than 127 million people are living in counties with dangerous levels of either ozone or particle pollution that can cause wheezing and coughing, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death. Those at greatest risk from air pollution include infants, children, older adults, anyone with lung diseases like asthma, people with heart disease or diabetes, people with low incomes and anyone who works or exercises outdoors. The Lung Association’s annual air quality report grades cities and counties based, in part, on the color-coded Air Quality Index developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to alert the public to daily unhealthy air conditions. The 13th annual report uses the most recent, quality-controlled EPA data collected from 2008 through 2010 from official monitors for ozone and particle pollution, the two most widespread types of air pollution. Counties are graded for ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution levels. The report also uses EPA’s calculations for year-round particle levels. Major improvements were seen in 18 of the 25 cities most polluted by ozone, including Los Angeles, which had the lowest smog levels since the report was first published in 2000. Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were among 17 of the 25 cities most polluted by annual particle pollution that experienced their cleanest years yet. Four cities—Pittsburgh, San Diego, Philadelphia and Visalia, Calif., had their lowest-ever, short-term particle pollution level. For the first time, Birmingham, Ala., Detroit, Mich., and York, Pa., dropped completely off the report’s 25 most-polluted cities lists. Santa Fe, N.M., ranked as the cleanest city in the nation. Meanwhile, State of the Air 2012 finds that nearly four out of 10 people in the U.S. live in counties that received an F for air quality because of unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution, which can cause health problems that day, and even days after. When inhaled, ozone irritates the lungs, like a bad sunburn, and can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and can shorten life. The report also finds that nearly 50 million Americans live in counties with too many unhealthy spikes in particle pollution levels, and nearly six million people live in areas with unhealthy year-round levels of particle pollution. Particle pollution is the most dangerous and deadly widespread air pollutant in America. This noxious mix of microscopic bits of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols can lead to early death, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits. Only eight counties received a failing grade for year-round particle pollution, further evidence of the continuing improvement even since last year’s report. The trend toward cleaner air continued throughout this three-year period, even as the economy, energy use and driving began to rebound after the recession in 2008-2009. The reduced emissions result from standards set under the Clean Air Act since the late 1990s that have driven continued cleanup of coal-fired power plants and the turnover of the fleet of older, dirtier SUVs, pick-up trucks, vans and diesel engines. The Ongoing Fight to Defend the Clean Air Act Although these air quality improvements clearly result from standards put into place under the Clean Air Act, big polluters and some members of Congress continue to propose to dismantle the law. Recent proposals in the Congress have included delaying implementation and blocking enforcement of parts of the law, and limiting EPA’s ability to consider all of the scientific evidence regarding the harm to public health. These challenges come despite EPA’s estimate that cutting air pollution through the Clean Air Act will prevent at least 230,000 deaths and save $2 trillion annually by 2020. “We still need to fulfill the promise of clean, healthy air for everyone, and that can only become a reality through the full implementation of the Clean Air Act. The American Lung Association strongly opposes any efforts to weaken, delay, or undermine the protective standards the law provides,” said Connor. The American people support the need for stricter limits on air pollution standards and the authority of the EPA to enforce these standards. A recent bipartisan survey found that about two-thirds of voters (66 percent) favor the EPA updating air pollution standards by setting stricter limits. Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of voters believe the nation does not have to choose between air quality and a strong economy. “The American Lung Association has been leading the fight for clean air for decades, and we are as determined as ever to give every American the clean air they deserve to breathe every day,” said Connor. To see how your community ranks in State of the Air 2012, to learn how to protect yourself and your family from air pollution, and to join the fight for healthy air, visit www.stateoftheair.org. Nation’s Most Polluted Cities 10 Most Ozone-Polluted Cities Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif. Visalia-Porterville, Calif. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif. Fresno-Madera, Calif. Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City, Calif.-Nev. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, Texas San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif. Merced, Calif. 10 Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution (Annual PM2.5) Bakersfield-Delano, Calif. Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif. Visalia-Porterville, Calif. Fresno-Madera, Calif. Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz. Cincinnati-Middletown-Wilmington, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. Louisville-Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, Ky.-Ind. Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md. St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, Mo.-Ill. 10 Cities Most Polluted by Short-Term Particle Pollution (24-hour PM2.5) Bakersfield-Delano, Calif. Fresno-Madera, Calif. Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif. Modesto, Calif. Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa. Salt Lake City-Ogden-Clearfield, UT Logan, UT-ID Fairbanks, Alaska Merced, Calif. For more information, click here. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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US EPA strives to protect the public health and welfare long-term
by Duane330＠aol.com 03 May '12

03 May '12

EPA UPDATES CLEAN AIR STANDARDS FOR DOMESTIC OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION On April 18, EPA finalized standards to reduce air pollution emitted from oil and natural gas wells, including for the first time, hydraulically fractured natural gas wells, storage tanks and other equipment. The new cost-effective technologies will help reduce the release of methane and other air toxics captured at the wellhead that can cause cancer and other serious health effects. For more information, go to _http://www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas_ (http://www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas) . EPA PUBLISHES NATIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY On April 16, EPA released the 17th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory that calculates the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by source and economic sector. The new figures indicate that overall, greenhouse gas emissions grew by more than 10 percent from 1990 to 2010, and in 2010, totaled 6,822 million metric tons. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions removed from the atmosphere by “sinks,” or carbon uptake by forests, vegetation and soils. For more information, go to _http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html_ (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html) .

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American Lung Association & GASP
by Duane 26 Apr '12

26 Apr '12

The State of the Air in 2012 Well, actually, we're talking about an average of the air quality from 2008 to 2010. So you could call it "The State of the Air 16 to 52 months ago," but that's not very catchy, is it? Whatever the title, the American Lung Association's recent report is a useful tool in comparing our air quality to other metropolitan regions in the US, as well as in benchmarking our own progress over the years. The report monitors ozone and PM2.5, two pollutants our region has high amounts of. A very brief summary for our region: while our air got cleaner in the time period discussed, our rankings were mixed. We improved from 3rd to 6th worst in daily spikes of PM2.5, but we fell further behind the rest of the country in annual levels of PM2.5 (from 7th to 6th worst) and ozone (24th to 20th worst). All sorts of other details, such as which cities ranked cleanest, can be found here. GASP and other PA environmental groups issued a statement, found here. While we should be happy that the hard work of so many here is leading to cleaner air, we're upset to have made slower progress than most everywhere else. The ozone numbers are ones to watch, as the shale gas industry continues to grow here. Emissions from this industry can form ozone, and Pittsburgh is quickly becoming the new capital of the shale revolution. Stay with GASP to see how we're tackling this threat. Visit our web site to learn more, and to become part of the solution.

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The challenge of global warming . . . .
by Duane 22 Mar '12

22 Mar '12

March 22, 2012 Spring Has Sprung Spring officially arrived this week, even if the temperatures in much of the US are feeling more like summer. As Climate Central scientist Heidi Cullen puts it in a recentNew York Times op-ed: "The first day of spring isn’t what it used to be. In fact, over the past several decades spring weather has been arriving earlier in most parts of the United States. This shift affects all aspects of life — from when flowers bloom to when animals migrate and have babies — the very things that make spring magical." Winter 2012 was the fourth warmest on record in the US, and the warmer-than-usual March temps and the earlier arrival of spring not only causes havoc in how species interact (as Cullen explains) but also paves the way for severe weather, such as "super cell" thunderstorms and tornadoes, as we are seeing in Texas and other parts of the center of the country. Global warming increases the risk of extreme weather events that threaten communities across the country. For details on the record-setting events of 2011 (including those in your area), check out NRDC's Extreme Weather map. Rising Sea Levels Put Coasts at Risk According to a new report fromClimate Central, sea level rise due to global warming has already doubled the risk of coastal flooding across the United States. By 2030, many locations are likely to see sea level rise at least 4 feet above the local high-tide line. Nearly 5 million U.S. residents live on land below this level. Titled “Surging Seas”, the report is the first to analyze how sea level rise caused by global warming is compounding the risk from storm surges throughout the coastal contiguous U.S. The Surging Seas website includes a searchable, interactive map that shows risk zones and statistics for 3,000 coastal towns, cities, counties and states. As Climate Central staff scientist Ben Strauss commented, “To preserve our coastal towns, cities and treasures, the nation needs to confront greenhouse gas pollution today, while also preparing to address sea level rise that can no longer be avoided." Surging Seas report available at ClimateCentral.org. For more on the threat of rising sea levels, check out this recent story from the New York Times. Join the Discussion There's nothing like unseasonably hot weather to make people think global warming is real, but the American public still lacks significant knowledge about the science of climate change. As Prof Andrew Hoffman of University of Michigan wrote in a Christian Science Monitor commentary this week: "People must be educated about science and the scientific process if we are to make rational and informed decisions that affect our future. … [But] the relative absence of academics and academic scholarship in the public discourse creates a vacuum into which uninformed, wrong, and downright destructive viewpoints get voiced and take hold." Climate scientists need to come down from their ivory towers and speak to the people in terms they can understand. The issues are too important for scientists to remain "lost in the academy." But we can all have an impact. That's why we encourage you to learn as much as you can about the science of global warming, and work to educate your family and friends. And here's an idea: why not help educate your community by organizing a presentation in your area from an Al Gore-trained presenter from The Climate Reality Project? Visit ClimateRealityProject.org to request a presentation. Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies Our friends at 350.org are organizing a petition to call on Congress to end subsidies to fossil fuel companies, and invest in green jobs and clean energy instead. Visit 350.org to voice your opposition to the billions in subsidies that the fossil fuel industry makes. The Prince's Speech Our industrial food system is causing severe environmental damage, and is a leading contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. Read "On the Future of Food: The Prince's Speech," by HRH Prince Charles, an insightful overview of our food system and a compelling vision for a sustainable future. There are many simple things you can do in your daily life to help stop global warming. Take Action Now! Want to know more about global warming? Check out our recommendedDVDs and books. Show your support and help us spread the word by hosting a banner or button on your site or blog. Promote SGW! Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Shale Research Center at WVU, not yet ....
by Duane 13 Mar '12

13 Mar '12

----- Original Message ----- From: DSGJr(a)aol.com To: dcsoinks(a)comcast.net Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 8:58 AM Subject: HB 4511 Don -- HB 4511 died on the last night of the Legislative Session. The bill would have created the Shale Research, Education, Policy and Economic Development Center at West Virginia University. The bill passed the House on Feb. 29. The bill was amended in Senate Finance Committee on March 7, and passed by the full Senate on March 9. The Senate Finance Committee amendment is not yet posted on line. On Saturday, the House refused to concur with the Senate version of the bill. The Senate refused to recede, and appointed members for a conference committee. The House refused to appoint conference committee members. So the bill died. Don Garvin WVEC Legislative Coordinator Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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NEW Climate and Clean Air Coalition
by Duane 09 Mar '12

09 Mar '12

THE CLIMATE AND CLEAN AIR COALITION TACKLES 'SHORT-LIVED' CLIMATE POLLUTION WORLDWIDE On Feb. 16, the State Department and EPA announced a new initiative to address climate change, improve air quality and protect public health: the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollution. Short-lived pollutants such as methane, black carbon (soot) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) contribute to climate change, impact public health, and food productivity. For more information, go to http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/02/184055.htm. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Air Quality Permit for compressor station, Frazer Twp., Allegheny County, PA
by Duane Nichols 06 Mar '12

06 Mar '12

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/news/2012/20120302b.aspx Comment Period Extended to March 23rd; Public Hearing Set on Air Quality Permit for March 27th For Allegheny County’s First Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Compressor Station Contact: Guillermo Cole, Health Department, 412-578-8004 office In response to requests from the public, the Allegheny County Health Department has decided to extend the comment period and also schedule a public hearing on a proposed air quality installation permit for a compressor station at a Marcellus Shale natural gas production site in Frazer Township. The compressor station, fueled solely by clean-burning natural gas, is classified as a minor source and not expected to have a significant impact on air quality. Superior Appalachian Pipeline plans to build the compressor station on Kissick Lane. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 27, at 6 p.m., at the Clack Health Center, Building 7, 301 Thirty-Ninth Street, Lawrenceville. In addition, the deadline for public comments will be extended from March 8 to March 27. Testimony at the hearing must be scheduled in advance, by calling 412-578-8115, by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 23. Speakers are limited to five minutes and asked to submit a written copy of their testimony. Comments may also be submitted until March 27 via email, fax or mail to: aqpermits(a)achd.net; 412-578-8144; or Allegheny County Health Department, Air Quality Program, 301 Thirty-Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. The proposed permit is posted on the Health Department’s web site, www.achd.net, and also available for review Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Health Department’s Air Quality Program office located in Lawrenceville. The compressor station, fueled solely by clean-burning natural gas, is classified as a minor source and not expected to have a significant impact on air quality. Superior Appalachian Pipeline plans to build the compressor station on Kissick Lane. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 27, at 6 p.m., at the Clack Health Center, Building 7, 301 Thirty-Ninth Street, Lawrenceville. In addition, the deadline for public comments will be extended from March 8 to March 27. Testimony at the hearing must be scheduled in advance, by calling 412-578-8115, by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 23. Speakers are limited to five minutes and asked to submit a written copy of their testimony. Comments may also be submitted until March 27 via email, fax or mail to: aqpermits(a)achd.net; 412-578-8144; or Allegheny County Health Department, Air Quality Program, 301 Thirty-Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. The proposed permit is posted on the Health Department’s web site, www.achd.net, and also available for review Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Health Department’s Air Quality Program office located in Lawrenceville.

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WVU Develops Marcellus Shale Air Monitoring System
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

This is refreshing to observe: http://www.wboy.com/story/16976388/wvu-develops-marcellus-shale-air-monitor… -Jonathan

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TALES FROM THE SHALE, also 90.5 FM PITTSBURGH
by Duane 08 Feb '12

08 Feb '12

Tales from the Shale Filmmaker Kirsi Jansa is taking a video camera into the heart of the controversies concerning Marcellus Shale. In her 5th installment, GASP's Legal Director, Joe Osborne, discusses air pollution from the shale industry, and resident Pam Judy explains what it's like living near a compressor station. Gas Rush Stories, part 5: A Neighbor The conversation continues this Friday on Essential Pittsburgh, a new radio program on 90.5 FM Essential Public Radio. GASP is honored to be a guest on this initial program, sharing the spotlight with Kathryn Klaber of the Marcellus Shale Coalition. We'll be talking all things shale, so please tune in this Friday, February 10, from 12-1 PM, and call the show with your questions and comments. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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