Fracking boom in PA raises health and environmental concerns

Reprinted from Keystone State News

Fracking is on the rise in southwestern Pennsylvania, leading to more plastic production and harsh consequences for residents.

Washington County is heavily fracked, with almost 4,000 fracking wells on top of current and legacy coal mines.

Sarah Martik, executive director of the Center for Coalfield Justice , said conversations are happening at the national and global level about fracking, affecting the way the fossil fuel industry wants to operate in the area. She added the demand for more plastic is driving some of the increased fracking in the area.

"As plastic production becomes more and more part of the fossil fuel industry strategy to protect themselves and their profits from what they would see as a decrease in profits from going towards renewable energy, we're seeing more communities impacted by both the plastic production side of it and on the petrochemical end," Martik explained.

Ninety-nine percent of plastics are made from fossil fuels, including fracked gas. Southwestern Pennsylvania is a major U.S. hotspot for gas extraction with fracking.

Jodi Borello, Washington County community organizer at the Center for Coalfield Justice, said natural gas sites cause air and water pollution in her rural community. She pointed out a new study from the University of Pittsburgh detailing the effects of fracking in the region.

"What they found was that if a child lives within one mile of an oil and gas facility, they have a five to seven greater chance of getting lymphoma, which is a major concern for our communities," Borello emphasized. "Because these well pads are everywhere."

Borello testified at the 43rd statewide grand jury hearing on the unconventional oil and gas industry. She noted the grand jury report proposed eight recommendations and her group is pushing for enhanced regulations, especially for single-use plastics.

"Expanding no drill zones in Pennsylvania from the required 500 feet to 2500 feet," Borello urged. "This is something that many of our residents are facing, 500 feet, a well pad next to their home. This is one of the most important recommendations."

Borello added another recommendation is for fracking companies to publicly disclose all chemicals used in drilling and hydraulic fracturing before using them on-site.