PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 9, 2023

On September 29, DEP told the Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee shale gas operations in Pennsylvania sent 138,336 cubic feet of radioactive TENORM waste to the Waste Control Specialists low-level radioactive waste facility in Texas for disposal. Click Here for DEP table on TENORM waste. Read more here.

Waste 108

Waste 2017 2022 Radiation 108

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 30, 2024

In any event, regulators are loosening safety and security requirements for SMRs in ways which could cancel out any safety benefits from passive features. And if the SMR were located closer to populated areas with no offsite emergency planning, more people could be exposed to dangerously high levels of radiation.

Nuclear Power 364

Nuclear Power Electricity Waste Cooling 364

PA Environment Daily

JULY 22, 2023

On July 22, the Governor’s Office published an update to the Regulatory Agenda of regulations in development that included a new annual permit fee for unconventional shale gas operations and a schedule for the release of updated waste and other environmental standards for conventional oil and gas drilling. Read more here.

Regulations 92

Regulations Waste 2023 Radiation 92

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 10, 2024

[This is one of a series of actions DEP has taken related to leachate generated in part by shale gas drilling waste deposited in the landfill and the refusal of the Belle Vernon Municipal Authority to accept the leachate for treatment because the leachate was “upsetting” the wastewater treatment process. Click Here for more.

Radiation 77

Radiation Waste 2023 Environmental Protection 77

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 18, 2025

Successful projects with community interest and available funding may be eligible for ongoing support in subsequent years.

Natural Gas 81

Natural Gas Radiation Regulations 2023 81

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 4, 2022

On September 30, DEP told the Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee shale gas fracking operations in Pennsylvania sent nearly 236,00 cubic feet of radioactive TENORM waste to out-of-state low-level radioactive waste facilities for disposal, more volume than all the industries combined in the four-state Appalachian Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact.

2016 98

2016 Waste 2021 Radiation 98

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 1, 2025

And when I assumed office in 2022, one of the things that I certainly articulated to my community in representing them is that this issue of our energy industry in Pennsylvania, it needs to be coupled with rigorous environmental regulation and certainly in sensitive areas relative to schools and parks and residential areas.

Fossil Fuels 108

Fossil Fuels 2025 Renewable Energy Natural Gas 108

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 13, 2023

The following blog post By Tina Curry-Bashioum was posted on the Environmental Health Project website providing a detailed look at the MAX Environmental Yukon Facility hazardous waste disposal site that accepts shale gas drilling waste in Westmoreland County. The decay chain of radium involves the release of radiation.

Waste 95

Waste Radiation Regulations 2016 95

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 6, 2022

Randomly selected individual on-site drill cutting and wastewater disposal plans submitted by conventional oil and gas drillers call for drilling wastes to be “dispersed directly to the environment,” according to a review by PA Environment Digest. Ph and conductivity will be tested and reported according to regulations.”

Waste 98

Waste Regulations Radiation Environmental Protection 98

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 18, 2025

Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment Stupid [PaEN] -- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta Introduce SB 581 Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Other Infrastructure, Based On Latest Science [PaEN] -- Environmental Health Project: Setback (..)

Natural Gas 77

Natural Gas Radiation 2023 2022 77

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 24, 2022

Residual Waste General Permit WMGR163 , mandated by the General Assembly, allows “temporary” oil and gas liquid waste processing, storage and transfer facilities for unconventional oil and gas operations to “pop-up” within 300 feet of dwellings with no advanced public notice was published in the June 25 PA Bulletin as final.

Waste 98

Waste Radiation Natural Gas Regulations 98

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 27, 2024

Among the issues raised by the appellants in their appeal were-- concerns the landfill’s operation would attract birds and interfere with the operation of the nearby Grove City Airport; that the oil and gas drilling wastes the landfill was allowed to accept presented a radiation hazard; and the landfill’s compliance history.

Waste 104

Waste Radiation Law 2024 104

PA Environment Daily

MAY 4, 2024

By Kara Holsopple, The Allegheny Front This article was first posted on The Allegheny Front website May 3, 2024 -- Waste from the oil and gas industry plays a central role in science journalist Justin Nobel‘s new book Petroleum-238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It. Why Does It Matter?

Radiation 78

Radiation Natural Gas Waste Regulations 78

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 3, 2023

A variety of studies have documented that radioactivity is brought to the surface with natural gas and oil production and travels through natural gas pipelines, oil refining systems, natural gas processing and liquid and solid waste disposal and treatment facilities. Haley, M.D.,

Radiation 74

Radiation Natural Gas Atmosphere Waste 74

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 2, 2025

He pointed to a series of medical visits and diagnoses medical professionals called, hydraulic fracking/volatile hydrocarbon exposure, respiratory irritation from hydrocarbon exposure, neurotoxicity, and radiation exposure.

Natural Gas 100

Natural Gas 2025 2023 2022 100

PA Environment Daily

MAY 22, 2024

By Justin Nobel, Author of Petroleum-238: Big Oil's Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It Since the fracking boom began in the early 2000s, oilfield waste has been spilled, spread, injected, dumped, and freely emitted across America, with particularly worrisome problems in Pennsylvania.

Waste 84

Waste 2005 Environmental Protection Radiation 84

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 9, 2024

Nobel’s book explores the question of where all of the toxic, radioactive waste the oil and gas industry produces goes. Resource Links - Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste: -- DEP: Potential For Environmental Impacts From Spills Or Leaks Of Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste Materials Is Real; Health Dept.

Waste 79

Waste Radiation Renewable Energy 2017 79

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Sara Innamorato (D-Allegheny) co-chaired a hearing by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee on the environmental and health dangers associated with oil and gas drilling waste in Pennsylvania. We are concerned because radium-226 and radium-228, both present in oil and gas waste, can cause bone and connective tissue cancer.

Waste 98

Waste Radiation Natural Gas 2016 98

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 13, 2021

million gallons of toxic, radioactive drilling waste on unpaved roads in the Commonwealth. Feridun’s attempt to use the Oil and Gas Division’s Oil and Gas Reporting Electronic (OGRE) system to track where the waste has gone revealed many problems with the system’s design and entries that should set off alarms but don’t.

Waste 98

Waste 2018 2016 2017 98

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 13, 2021

Hess, Former Secretary Department of Environmental Protection The information submitted to DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management from eight conventional oil and gas companies to justify allowing them to dispose of millions of gallons of wastewater by spreading it on dirt roads fails to meet the requirements of DEP’s 25 Pa Code Chapter 287.8

Waste 76

Waste Regulations 2020 2010 76

PA Environment Daily

JULY 29, 2021

In 2020, Justin Nobel wrote an expose of fracking’s radioactivity, in particular in the wastewater and other wastes produced by natural gas drilling. The Delaware RiverKeeper Network is hosting an August 18 webinar Radioactivity In Fracking - Too Hot To Handle with scientist and author Justin Nobel from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Radiation 98

Radiation Waste Natural Gas Natural Resources 98

PA Environment Daily

JULY 1, 2023

From June 24 to 30, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 435 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 23 violations of environmental regulations-- 8 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 15 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

Radiation 97

Radiation Natural Gas 2013 2023 97

PA Environment Daily

JULY 26, 2021

In an effort to further protect Pennsylvania’s waterways and drinking water, the Department of Environmental Program announced it will soon require all Pennsylvania landfills – including those that accept unconventional oil and gas waste – to conduct quarterly testing of leachate for radiological contaminants.

Waste 76

Waste Radiation 2016 Natural Resources 76

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 31, 2025

This reality necessitates laws and regulations capable of protecting those put at risk by fracking, and a government willing to enforce them. But if the activity is to be permitted, it still must be regulated appropriately, in ways that prevent reckless harms. since 2016 from 10,228 to 14,683. Read more here ]. Read more here ].

Natural Gas 105

Natural Gas 2025 Waste 2023 105

PA Environment Daily

MAY 10, 2023

Wolf’s PFAS Action Team Report noted there is a concern wastewater plant sewage sludge also contains PFAS and policies are needed to properly manage this waste. Similar concerns would be present in oil and gas waste treatment facilities. Read more here. See Paragraph 71 in appeal.] Read more here. See paragraph 78-98 of EHB appeal.]

Radiation 104

Radiation Waste 2019 2012 104

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 15, 2022

Joseph – individually and doing business as Joseph Contracting, John Joseph Contracting, and Perry Stone Supply LLC – to settle violations of the Solid Waste Management Act and Pennsylvania regulations that occurred between 2012 and 2015 in Dunbar, Perry, and South Union Townships, Fayette County.

Waste 75

Waste Natural Gas 2015 Radiation 75

PA Environment Daily

MAY 2, 2022

DEP said 721 of the alternative on-site drill cutting waste disposal plans were for conventional oil and gas well drillers. By avoiding landfills, oil and gas operators also avoid having to comply with the waste disposal regulations that go along with it. 61(d) under the unconventional regulations. Read more here.

Waste 98

Waste Radiation Regulations 2016 98

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 1, 2025

This year, in addition to the trihalomethane notice, we received notices of exceeding lead levels and notices above radiation levels. This allows fracking waste labeled as residual waste to be disposed of in municipal landfills. Municipal landfills from toxic radioactive fracking waste.

Natural Gas 57

Natural Gas 2025 Waste Radiation 57

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 12, 2023

Alison Steele, Executive Director of the Environmental Health Project , provided comments on the gaps in health and safety regulation to protect oil and gas industry workers and the public. Christopher Rabb (D-Philadelphia) and Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester). Click Here to watch a video of the press briefing. They posted it up.

Radiation 143

Radiation Natural Gas Waste Carbon Monoxide 143

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection has advised 18 municipalities where road dumping of oil and gas wastewater has occurred the practice is illegal and considered waste disposal. DEP labels a total of 84 townships as “waste facilities” where road dumping of the wastewater has occurred. Read more here. Read more here.

Waste 113

Waste Radiation Regulations 2016 113

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 17, 2024

Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In McKean County Until Hearing On Full Supersedeas [PaEN] -- TribLive: Environmental Groups Appeal CNX Slickville Pipelines Permits -- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 23 Workshop On Holiday Greens Creations - Bring Home The Cheer In Wayne County -- North Branch Land Trust: Dec.

Conservation 83

Conservation Electricity Recycling Waste 83

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Among the issues raised by the appellants in their original appeal were-- concerns the landfill’s operation would attract birds and interfere with the operation of the nearby Grove City Airport; that the oil and gas drilling wastes the landfill was allowed to accept presented a radiation hazard; and the landfill’s compliance history.

Waste 79

Waste Natural Gas Radiation Law 79

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 11, 2022

Democracy : every day, decisions are made that affect all of us—laws, regulations, and policy choices. Studies suggest that these activities have likely caused tens to possibly hundreds of thousands of deaths and severe illnesses, as nuclear frontline communities live with high levels of exposure to radiation and other toxins.

Climate Change 55

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Politics Radiation 55

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 5, 2023

On April 5, township supervisors, concerned residents, and advocacy organizations submitted a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection calling on the agency to conduct a proper Public Participation Process for an oil and gas waste injection disposal well in Potter County.

Waste 74

Waste Environmental Protection Natural Gas Radiation 74

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 2, 2024

DEP’s eFACTS database file for the Mohr A and B well pads includes DEP approvals for “alternative waste management practices” for land application of drilling waste on the Mohr A and B well pad site dated April, May and October 2011 which match the drilling dates of seven out of the eight wells. Read more here. Read more here.

2011 130

2011 2017 Waste Radiation 130

Greenbuilding Law

JUNE 5, 2022

With proposed federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by the Securities and Exchange Commission requiring GHG disclosure and new state statutes, including a new Maryland law that requires not only disclosure, but also a mandated reduction in GHG emissions, a greater appreciation of the subject of GHG appears in order.

Greenhouse 98

Greenhouse Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere Fossil Fuels 98

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 22, 2022

Plants regulate their salt concentrations much like how our bodies regulate blood pressure. Crop damage radiates inward gradually from the edges of a field, where the salt hits first. But the practice, known as flushing, wastes freshwater. A salt-affected corn plant on a field in Somerset County, MD.

Sea Level 321

Sea Level Conservation Ocean 2009 321