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Clean air group sues shale-drilling operation
Thursday, July 21, 2011
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A federal lawsuit alleges that Marcellus Shale gas well drilling operations in two Pennsylvania counties emit dangerous air pollutants in violation of the U.S. Clean Air Act, Pennsylvania's statewide air emissions plan and new source-review regulations.
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, an environmental organization, filed the lawsuit today against Colorado-based Ultra Resources Inc. in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and also formally asked the state Department of Environmental Protection to open up all its air pollution records for Marcellus drilling operations throughout the state.
"Ultra's drilling operations in Tioga and Potter counties are emitting dangerous and illegal air pollution and operating without the required permits," said Jan Jarrett, president and chief executive officer of PennFuture. "Unless gas drillers operating in Pennsylvania control the air pollution from their operations, air quality will deteriorate, putting public health at risk."
The lawsuit alleges that the Ultra opertions are emitting large quantities of nitrogen oxide pollutants and that the company drilled wells and constructed compressor stations and pipelines without receiving required state permits that limit air pollution emissions and without using equipment designed to meet the lowest achievable emissions rate.
The suit also claims the air pollutants are creating serious health risks to those living downwind.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, even short-term exposure to nitrogen oxides can impair respiratory health, causing throat and lung inflammation and exacerbating asthma. It can also lead to higher concentrations of airborne particulate matter, which can cause heart attacks.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Don Hopey:
dhopey@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1983.