Fracking Companies Fail on Disclosure to Investors | As You Sow Winter 2013 Newsletter
November 19, 2013
Fracking Companies Fail on Disclosure to Investors | As You Sow Winter 2013 Newsletter.
Risks of Unconventional Shale Gas Development
July 8, 2013
Risks of Unconventional Shale Gas Development. 6/2013
Workshop on Risks of Unconventional Shale Gas Development
May 30-31, 2013
The large-scale development of natural gas resources from deep shale formations has raised a host of concerns about risks to the environment and human health. This workshop will provide a comprehensive, evidence-based look at the scope, nature, and magnitude of environmental risks of unconventional shale gas development. Which risks concern people? What do we know about them? What do we need to know? Which risks pose major challenges? are all questions this workshop will address. The workshop will include discussions of the current state of knowledge on risks of concern and promote a broad and balanced assessment of the issues including presentations by invited experts, discussant comments from experts offering contrasting perspectives, and time for open discussion on each topic.
► Agenda
► Video archives of the workshop presentations (scrolling list below screen):
Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues – Congressional Research Service
April 5, 2013
Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues. Jan. 24, 2013
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhobnobblog.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2FR42611_2013_02_21_61p.pdf Keystone XL update Feb. 21, 2013
CRS Sees Bigger GHG Impacts From Tar Sands Than Draft Keystone Study By State Department
Handing environmentalists and congressional opponents of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline a new tool to fight the project, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) is estimating significantly higher greenhouse gas emissions from the project than the State Department found in its recently issued draft analysis.
Environmental advocates are already pointing to the March 15 CRS report as being more “balanced” than the department’s draft environmental impact statement (EIS). Environmentalists welcome the research service’s methodology because, unlike the State Department, it does not assume that the oil sands will be developed regardless of whether the pipeline is built to transport the crude from Alberta, Canada, to the Texas Gulf Coast.
But industry advocates of the pipeline say the CRS report is flawed compared with the draft EIS because of this assumption, suggesting they will push back on any effort to use the study to argue against Keystone.
The dispute over the study all but ensures the CRS report will play a role in renewed debate over the pipeline once Congress returns April 8. The House Energy & Commerce Committee has scheduled an April 10 hearing in the power subcommittee to discuss H.R. 3, a bill that would approve the pipeline and limit legal challenges.
Meanwhile, Senate environment committee ranking member David Vitter (R-LA) and Sens. James Inhofe (R-OK), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are urging EPA to fight any effort by environmentalists to force a settlement setting binding deadlines for the agency to craft greenhouse gas trading rules should environmentalists sue over a lack of a response to their petition asking EPA to use various Clean Air Act powers to create climate trading programs.
Physicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy
December 14, 2012
Physicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy.
MORE THAN 100 LEADING MEDICAL, SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS URGE WHITE HOUSE TO HALT RUSH TO EXPANDED SHALE GAS FRACKING FOR EXPORT PURPOSES
MORE THAN 100 LEADING MEDICAL, SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS URGE WHITE HOUSE TO HALT RUSH TO EXPANDED SHALE GAS FRACKING FOR EXPORT PURPOSES
First, Do No Harm: Get the Health Facts Now Is the Message From Petitioners to Obama
WASHINGTON, D.C.///December 13, 2012///Moving ahead rapidly with plans to approve several new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals would require “a rapid increase in fracking in the United States without credible science” and “could potentially cause undue harm to many Americans,” according to 107 experts who signed on to a petition sent today to the White House.
Facilitated by Physicians, Scientists, & Engineers for Healthy Energy (PSE), the petition is a response to the Obama Administration’s consideration of fast tracking of the permitting process for LNG export terminals that would trigger a substantial spike in the fracking of U.S. shale gas in order to meet foreign energy demands.
Signed by top U.S. medical professionals, researchers, and other scientists, the petition reads in part: “There is a growing body of evidence that unconventional natural gas extraction from shale (also known as ‘fracking’) may be associated with adverse health risks through exposure to polluted air, water, and soil. Public health researchers and medical professionals question the continuation of current levels of fracking without a full scientific understanding of the health implications. The opening of LNG export facilities would serve to accelerate fracking in the United States in absence of sound scientific assessment, placing policy before health.”
Seth B. Shonkoff, PhD, MPH, executive director, Physicians, Scientists, & Engineers for Healthy Energy (PSE), and environmental researcher, University of California, Berkeley, said: “The question here is very simple: Why would the United States dramatically increase the use of an energy extraction method without first ensuring that the trade-off is not the health of Americans in exchange for the energy demands of foreign nations? Health professionals are coming together today to urge the White House to make sure that we have the facts prior to making this decision. The only prudent thing to do here is to conduct the needed research first.”
Adam Law, MD, physician, Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, NY, and Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers for Healthy Energy, said: “Researchers are finding measurable levels of pollutants from this industry in air and water that are associated with the risk of illness. The first studies to describe this are entering the scientific literature and public health researchers are embarking on multiple approaches to study the associated adverse health effects.”
Madelon L. Finkel, PhD, professor of clinical public health, and director of the Office of Global Health Education, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, said: “Natural gas has been in these shale formations for millions of years; it isn’t going anywhere and will be around for future generations. Society especially owes it to those living in areas with both active and planned drilling to study the potential for harm (to the environment and to human and animal health) and to act to reduce those factors that are shown to increase the risk of disease and even death.”
Louis W. Allstadt, former executive vice president, Mobil Oil Corporation, Cooperstown, NY, said:“The current unconventional oil and gas drilling process using High Volume Horizontal Hydro-Fracturing is a much more intensive industrial activity than conventional drilling, which was the norm until about 10 years ago. It requires far greater volumes of water and chemicals, as well as disposal of much larger volumes of toxic flow-back fluids. We need to fully study and understand the health effects of the significantly greater volumes of toxic materials that must be handled and disposed of with this process.”
The full text of the PSE petition reads as follows:
“We the undersigned medical and scientific professionals urge the Obama Administration to put a hold on moving forward on the construction of new liquefied natural gas terminals for the large-scale exportation of shale gas to foreign nations. Our concern is that the Administration has not fully examined the potential for harm to health and the environment that could result.
There is a growing body of evidence that unconventional natural gas extraction from shale (also known as ‘fracking’) may be associated with adverse health risks through exposure to polluted air, water, and soil.
Public health researchers and medical professionals question the continuation of current levels of fracking without a full scientific understanding of the health implications. The opening of LNG export facilities would serve to accelerate fracking in the United States in absence of sound scientific assessment, placing policy before health.
As the White House and the Department of Energy contemplate exporting LNG to accommodate international demand for energy, the need for a deliberative process based on sound science is all the more important. We assert that a guiding ethical principle for public policy on fracking should parallel that used by physicians: ‘First, do not harm.’
There is a need for much more scientific and epidemiologic information about the potential for harm from fracking. To facilitate a rapid increase in fracking in the United States without credible science is irresponsible and could potentially cause undue harm to many Americans.
Without well-designed scientific studies, we will not know the extent of potential harm from fracking. We strongly urge the Administration to err on the side of caution as it contemplates national policy regarding the exportation of shale gas.
The health professionals below sign as individuals and do not necessarily represent the views of their employer.”
For the full list of signers of the PSE petition, go to http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/.
ABOUT PSE
Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers for Healthy Energy is dedicated to supplying objective, evidence-based, scientific information and resources on unconventional gas development (high-volume hydrofracking) and other novel energy production methods. PSE’s mission is to bring transparency to the important scientific and public policy issues surrounding energy, helping to level the playing field for citizens, scientists, advocacy groups, media, and policy-makers. For more information, go to http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT: Patrick Mitchell, (703) 276-3266 or pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A streaming audio replay of the news event will be available on the Web at http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/ as of 6 p.m. EST on Dec 13, 2012.
DOWNLOAD Sign On Letter
Listen to the Audio
Letter Signatories:
| Adam Law, MD | Seth Shonkoff, PhD, MPH | |
| Physicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy
Cayuga Medical Center Weill Cornell Medical College |
Physicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy
University of California, Berkeley |
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Ajay Pillarisetti, MPH, University of California, Berkeley Alastair Iles, PhD, JD, University of California, Berkeley Allison Wilson, PhD, Science Director, The Bioscience Resource Project Amelia Pare, MD, President Elect, Allegheny County Medical Association Ann Marie O’Reilly, MSEd, OTR/L Holy Childhood, Inc. Anne Neirynck, NP, IthacaMed Antoinette Kuzminski, MD Audrie L. Paluselli, RN, UPMC Mercy Hospital Pittsburgh, Pa Barbara White, RNC, MS, FNP, Department of Medicine, Gannett Health Services Byron Demopoulos, MD, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital Catherine Thomasson, MD, Executive Director, Physician for Social Responsibility, Washington, DC Charles Garbo, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Claire Cifaloglio, MD, Retired Pediatrician Coby Schultz , BSN, RN, Rochester General Hospital Colleen Reid, MPH, University of California, Berkeley Cora Foster, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Cornelia E. Farnum, PhD, DVM, Professor Emerita, Cornell University Daniel Miller, MD, Chief, Clinical Quality and Training Hudson River HealthCare Daria B Crittenden, MD, NYU School of Medicine David Feldshuh, MD, PhD, Cornell University David Gould, MD, MBA David R. Brown, ScD, SWPA Environmental Health Project Deborah Payne, MPH, Kentucky Environmental Foundation Denise DeJohn, MSN, CRNP, SWPA Environmental Health Project Douglas MacQueen, MD, Cayuga Medical Associates Ellen Henry, PhD, Univ of Rochester Medical Center Elmer Ewing, PhD, Prof. Emeritus, Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Erik D. Hiester, DO, President: Broome County Medical Society, Lourdes Hospital Esther I Herkowitz, MS, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Health Net Geoffrey E Moore, MD, FACSM, Director of Clinical Services, Cayuga Center for Healthy Living Gerri Wiley, RN, Owego RAFT (Residents Against Fracking Tioga) Helen Podgainy, MD, Children’s Community Pediatrics, Moon and Wexford J. B. Heiser, PhD, Cornell University James C. Macmillan, MD, Tompkins County Board of Health James W. Walker, MD, Bassett Healthcare Network Jeffrey Carlberg, MD, FamilyCare Medical Group Jens Wennberg, PA, Ithaca Free Clinic Joan Cain, FNP-C, IthacaMed John Cooke, MD, Cayuga Medical Center, Ithaca, NY Jose Torrado, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Joseph A. Mannino, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Josephine C. McAllister, MD, Dermatology Associates of Ithaca Judy Krisher-Bussone, RN Julie Huntsman, DVM, Councilmember, Town of Otsego, NY Karen LaFace, MD, Ithaca, NY Karen M. Landt, MS, ANP, Clinton Crossings Dermatology Katharine W. Lloyd, MD, MI Bassett Hospital Katherine Schaff, MPH, University of California, Berkeley Kathleen Nolan, MD, MSL, Regional Director for the High Peaks, Catskill Mountainkeeper Kathryn M. Zunich, MD, Iasis Partners, LLC Kathy Dervin, MPH, 350 Bay Area Kelly K. Branigan, RN Ken Spaeth, MD, MPH, Hofstra University School of Health Sciences & Human Services
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Kenneth Hill, MD, Gannett Health Services
Kimberly Carney Young, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Kristin Stevens, NP, ObGyn IthacaMed Kristine Noonan, RN, Nurses for Safe Water Larysa Dyrszka, MD, Pediatrician (retired) Leslie A. Walleigh, MD, MPH, SWPA Environmental Health Project Linda Rudolph, MD, MPH, Linda Rudolph and Associates Lisa Stankus, CRNP, Gannett: Cornell University Health Services Madelon L. Finkel, PhD, Weill Cornell Medical College Marcy Schaeffer, RN, NP, Ithaca City School District Margaret Buckley, RN, MSN, Nurse Rise, Buffalo, New York Margaret Rafferty, DNP, RN, MA, MPH Marguerite Uphoff, MD, MPH, FAAP, Northeast Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Marianne Herr-Paul, DO, Wellspring Cottage, LLC Marie Harkins, MS, FNP, CNM, Cayuga Medical Center Mary McCutcheon, RN MS, San Francisco Department of Public Health (Retired) Mary Menapace, RN, Concerned Health Professionals of NY Marybeth Carlberg, MD, FamilyCare Medical Group, SUNY Upstate Medical Associate Faculty Mel Packer, PA-C, Pittsburgh, PA Melissa Poulsen, MPH, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University Meriamne Singer, MD Michael O’Brien, MD, University at Buffalo Michael P. Branigan, CRNA, MS Michelle Bamberger, MS, DVM, Vet Behavior Consults Monica Daniel, RN, CNM, LAc Nancy B. Stewart, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Nanette M. Dowling, DO, Cayuga Medical Center Nina Pesante, MD Peter Clark, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Peter J. Davies, PhD, Cornell University Peter Schwartz, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Philip Goodman, MD, Self-Employed/Private Practice, Binghamton, NY Pouné Saberi, MD, MPH, Philadelphia Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility Rachel Morello-Frosch, PhD, MPH, University of California, Berkeley Rajaran Rao, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Rebecca Damiani, FNP-C, Gannett Health Services Rebekah Bowser, RN, BSN, Phoenixville Area School District, Healthy Achievers, Maxim Healthcare Richard Weiskopf, MD, SUNY Upstate Medical University Robert Oswald, PhD, Molecular Medicine, Cornell University Ronald E. Bishop, PhD, CHO, State University of New York at Oneonta Samantha K. Davenport, MD, Chief of Pathology, Bassett Healthcare Network Samuel M. Lesko, MD, MPH, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Sandra Steingraber, PhD, Ithaca College Sarah Buckley, RN, BSN, CCRN, POWR, Protecting Our Water Rights Sheila Bushkin, MD, MPH, Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) Stephanie Westerman , DVM, Medaille College, Buffalo, NY Susan Cowdery, MD, Cayuga Medical Center Susan G. Miller, MD, Gannett Health Services Suzanne Anderson, MD, Trumansburg Family Health Center Tawn Feeney, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist Teresa R. Miller, MD, private practice physician Tim Cardina, MD, Cayuga Medical Center William Klepack, MD, Dryden Family Medicine William S. Tyler, MD, Cayuga Medical Center (Past President, Retired) Zoë Chafe, MPH, MS, University of California, Berkeley
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U.S. GAO – Oil and Gas: Information on Shale Resources, Development, and Environmental and Public Health Risks
November 13, 2012
What GAO Found
Estimates of the size of shale oil and gas resources in the United States by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Potential Gas Committee–three organizations that estimate the size of these resources–have increased over the last 5 years, which could mean an increase in the nation’s energy portfolio. For example, in 2012, EIA estimated that the amount of technically recoverable shale gas in the United States was 482 trillion cubic feet–an increase of 280 percent from EIA’s 2008 estimate. However, according to EIA and USGS officials, estimates of the size of shale oil and gas resources in the United States are highly dependent on the data, methodologies, model structures, and assumptions used to develop them. In addition, less is known about the amount of technically recoverable shale oil than shale gas, in part because large-scale production of shale oil has been under way for only the past few years. Estimates are based on data available at a given point in time and will change as additional information becomes available. In addition, domestic shale oil and gas production has experienced substantial growth; shale oil production increased more than fivefold from 2007 to 2011, and shale gas production increased more than fourfold from 2007 to 2011.
Oil and gas development, whether conventional or shale oil and gas, pose inherent environmental and public health risks, but the extent of these risks associated with shale oil and gas development is unknown, in part, because the studies GAO reviewed do not generally take into account the potential long-term, cumulative effects. For example, according to a number of studies and publications GAO reviewed, shale oil and gas development poses risks to air quality, generally as the result of (1) engine exhaust from increased truck traffic, (2) emissions from diesel-powered pumps used to power equipment, (3) gas that is flared (burned) or vented (released directly into the atmosphere) for operational reasons, and (4) unintentional emissions of pollutants from faulty equipment or impoundments–temporary storage areas. Similarly, a number of studies and publications GAO reviewed indicate that shale oil and gas development poses risks to water quality from contamination of surface water and groundwater as a result of erosion from ground disturbances, spills and releases of chemicals and other fluids, or underground migration of gases and chemicals. For example, tanks storing toxic chemicals or hoses and pipes used to convey wastes to the tanks could leak, or impoundments containing wastes could overflow as a result of extensive rainfall. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s 2011 Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, spilled, leaked, or released chemicals or wastes could flow to a surface water body or infiltrate the ground, reaching and contaminating subsurface soils and aquifers. In addition, shale oil and gas development poses a risk to land resources and wildlife habitat as a result of constructing, operating, and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to develop oil and gas; using toxic chemicals; and injecting fluids underground. However, the extent of these risks is unknown. Further, the extent and severity of environmental and public health risks identified in the studies and publications GAO reviewed may vary significantly across shale basins and also within basins because of location- and process-specific factors, including the location and rate of development; geological characteristics, such as permeability, thickness, and porosity of the formations; climatic conditions; business practices; and regulatory and enforcement activities.
Why GAO Did This Study
New applications of horizontal drilling techniques and hydraulic fracturing–in which water, sand, and chemical additives are injected under high pressure to create and maintain fractures in underground formations–allow oil and natural gas from shale formations (known as “shale oil” and “shale gas”) to be developed. As exploration and development of shale oil and gas have increased–including in areas of the country without a history of oil and natural gas development–questions have been raised about the estimates of the size of these resources, as well as the processes used to extract them.
GAO was asked to determine what is known about the (1) size of shale oil and gas resources and the amount produced from 2007 through 2011 and (2) environmental and public health risks associated with the development of shale oil and gas. GAO reviewed estimates and data from federal and nongovernmental organizations on the size and production of shale oil and gas resources. GAO also interviewed federal and state regulatory officials, representatives from industry and environmental organizations, oil and gas operators, and researchers from academic institutions.
GAO is not making any recommendations in this report. We provided a draft of this report to the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency for review. The Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate. The Department of Energy did not provide comments.
For more information, contact Frank Rusco at (202) 512-3841 or ruscof@gao.gov.
GDACC 
