251266 Unconventional natural gas exploration and production: Critical core policy areas for the protection of public health and the environment

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 4:45 PM

Conrad Volz, DrPH, MPH , Environmental and Occupational Health Department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Charles Christen, DrPH, MEd , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Kyle John Ferrar, MPH , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Samantha Malone, MPH, CPH , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Matthew Kelso, BS , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Andrew Michanowicz, MPH, CPH , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Shannon Kearney, MPH, CPH , Environmental and Occupational Health department, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
     
Unconventional gas extraction in deep shale deposits presents considerable risks to public health and safety as well as to environmental resources, which bear directly on environmental justice issues for affected communities already heavily impacted by other energy extraction and production operations. This presentation will address three critical core public health and environmental resource policy areas that require new legislation, rulemaking and enforcement strategies at the federal, state, and local levels to reduce risk, and promote community health and justice associated with unconventional natural gas extraction. Firstly, unconventional gas extraction wells are highly industrialized operations that have public health preparedness risks of catastrophic blowout, explosion and fire. Any of these incidents can, create an Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health condition for those living in close physical proximity, and compromise critical infrastructure. Secondly, the higher rates and differential patterns of oil and gas act violations from Marcellus Shale gas extraction operations, as compared to conventional oil and gas wells, suggests a much greater impact to drinking water and aquatic resources. Marcellus Shale gas extraction wells have between 1.5 to 4 times more violations than their conventional well counterparts per offending well, including more serious violations and violations that have a direct impact on water quality and aquatic resources. The third problem public health and environmental policy area to be addressed is the disposal of gas extraction flowback fluids, carrying a plethora of toxic elements and chemicals, in inefficient “brine” treatment facilities and Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW's) [commonly called sewage treatment plants], which discharge effluent directly into surface water sources. Studies of the effluent from a commercial facility in Pennsylvania that treats fluids only from gas and oil operations shows discharge of 9 pollutants in excess of nationally recognized human and/or aquatic health standards into a nearby stream.

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. List three core critical areas of public health and environmental resources policy that require attention to reduce risk and insure environmental justice and stability associate with unconventional shale gas extraction. 2. Explain the contaminants exiting brine treatment plants and sewage treatment plants into surface water sources. 3. Describe the public health and environmental impacts of these pollutants.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been reseraching and working on issues of natural gas extraction and impacts on human health for the past 2 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Heinz Foundation Environmental Health Funder

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: How is the natural gas industry affecting communities in the Marcellus Shale?
See more of: Environment