Regulatory loopholes in the natural gas industry are causing health concerns for Pennsylvania residents living near hydraulic fracturing sites, with unchecked methane emissions and other pollutants from midstream activities worsening local air quality. I'm letting you do it.
John Hurdle Report Yale Environment 360.
in short:
- Residents near natural gas facilities in Pennsylvania are experiencing health problems from unregulated midstream emissions such as methane and volatile organic compounds.
- The Environmental Protection Agency's new rules aim to reduce methane emissions, but do not address the cumulative effects of minor leaks from midstream activities.
- Legal and environmental experts have proposed aggregating trace emissions and classifying them as major sources, leading to stricter regulations.
Main quotation:
“Unfortunately, the EPA is allowing this to happen.”
— Ilan Levin, Associate Director, Conservation Projects Office, Austin, Texas
Why this is important:
This article highlights the critical environmental and public health issue of regulatory loopholes in natural gas emissions that impact local communities. Understanding the cumulative impact of these emissions is critical for informed policymaking and protection of public health, especially in areas where natural gas extraction and processing activities are concentrated.
To protect public health, the expert panel recommends at least doubling the required distance between hydraulic wells and residential buildings.
