Kristina Marusic

petrochemical shell pennsylvania plastic
Shell's new petrochemical complex in southwestern Pennsylvania. (Credit: Nate Smallwood for Environmental Health News and Sierra Magazine)
Newsletter

Shell must seek a new air pollution permit for its Pennsylvania plastics plant

For nearly a year and a half the company has been operating under a construction permit. Now, the plant will be subjected to federal Clean Air Act laws.

PITTSBURGH — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is requiring Shell Chemical Appalachia to submit a new air pollution permit for its massive petrochemical plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, which will subject the plant to more regulatory oversight than it’s been operating under.

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pipeline protest
Protesters rallying in opposition to the PennEast pipeline. (Credit: Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
Top Story

Protesting oil and gas line development harms mental health and creates distrust in government: Study

PITTSBURGH — Engaging in public participation during permitting for oil and gas pipelines often harms mental health and creates distrust in government, according to a new study.

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environmental justice

The things I'm hopeful about in 2024 as an environmental reporter

PITTSBURGH — As a journalist who covers environmental health, much of my job revolves around shining a light on difficult problems.

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childrens health climate change
A 2019 youth climate protest in downtown Pittsburgh. (Credit: Kristina Marusic for Environmental Health News)
Top Story

Delays in joining the RGGI regional climate program means excess ER visits and child illness in Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH — On November 1, a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled against Pennsylvania joining a Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a program that limits climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

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Pittsburgh Rivers
Boat slips along the Monongahela River from Pittsburgh's Smithfield St. Bridge. (Credit: Kristina Marusic)
Causes

Numerous miles-long oil spills have been reported on one of Pittsburgh’s iconic three rivers

PITTSBURGH — Oil sheens up to 18 miles long have repeatedly been reported by an environmental advocacy group on the Monongahela River over the last six months.

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Top Story

“Forever chemicals” in Pennsylvania fracking wells could impact health of surrounding communities: Report

PITTSBURGH — “Forever chemicals” have been used in Pennsylvania fracking wells, but it’s impossible to know how widespread contamination could be, according to a new report.

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Pittsburgh environmental justice
Community members and Pennsylvania organizations collaborating with the Breathe Project host a press event calling for clean air in 2019. (Credit: Mark Dixon/flickr)
Good News

These new changes could re-shape environmental justice in Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) is holding a public meeting in Pittsburgh tonight on the agency’s first proposed updates to the state’s environmental justice policy in 20 years.

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From our Newsroom
environmental justice

LISTEN: Ana Baptista on supporting environmental justice movement building in academia

“Some of the best relationships have been built over that time where you’re just getting to know each other, showing up, being present.”

petrochemicals Texas

Toxic air lingers in Texas Latino community, revealing failures in state’s air monitoring system

Public data from a network of state air monitors around the Houston Ship Channel is hard to interpret and is often inadequate, leaving Latino-majority neighborhoods like Cloverleaf unaware of whether the air they breathe is safe.

petrochemicals Texas

El aire tóxico en una comunidad latina de Texas revela los fallos del sistema estatal de control de calidad del aire

Los datos públicos de una red de monitores estatales del aire alrededor del Canal de Navegación de Houston son difíciles de interpretar y a menudo son insuficientes, dejando a vecindarios de mayoría latina, como Cloverleaf, sin saber si el aire que respiran es seguro.

Global Plastic Treaty

This will be a big year in shaping the future of chemical recycling

The controversial practice looms large in state environmental laws, federal regulation and global plastic treaty negotiations.

plastic chemical recycling

What is chemical recycling?

While industry claims it could be part of a circular plastics economy, experts say that chemical recycling is extremely damaging to the environment and provides no real benefits.

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