pennsylvania
Credit: Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance, 2023
Pennsylvania will monitor private drinking water wells near the East Palestine train derailment site for 10 years
Residents remain concerned about how the accident is impacting their health.
A year and a half after a catastrophic Norfolk Southern train derailment and chemical fire in East Palestine, Ohio, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has announced plans to monitor private drinking water wells for Pennsylvania residents living within one mile of the accident site for the next decade.
East Palestine borders Pennsylvania, and a recent study found that toxic chemicals from the incident spread to at least 16 states.
The chemicals released in the spill, including vinyl chloride, 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, are used to manufacture plastic. Exposure to these chemicals is linked to headaches, nausea, neurological problems, liver damage and cancer, among other health effects. Residents in surrounding regions have reported lingering health problems like stomach aches, headaches and respiratory problems in the wake of the incident.
“There has not been any detection of ongoing contamination related to the derailment and subsequent controlled burn,” Jessica Shirley, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, said in a statement, referring to the controlled burning off of flammable, toxic chemicals after the derailment that was later revealed to have been unnecessary.
“[We] will continue to monitor the private drinking water and groundwater to make sure that if there is an issue down the road we can both alert residents and take action to address it immediately,” she added.
The water monitoring program is a requirement in the proposed federal settlement between Norfolk Southern and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which provides funding for private water well monitoring near the site in both Pennsylvania and Ohio, along with a 20-year community health program that includes ongoing medical monitoring for residents within two miles of the derailment and first responders who were on the scene within a month of the accident. The program includes routine exams, bloodwork, pulmonary function tests and x-rays, among other services. The settlement also includes mental health services for first responders and people who lived in Columbiana County, Ohio, and Beaver or Lawrence Counties, Pennsylvania, at any time from February 3, 2023, through the date of the settlement.
“[We] will continue to monitor the private drinking water and groundwater to make sure that if there is an issue down the road we can both alert residents and take action to address it immediately." — Jessica Shirley, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
The details of the water monitoring plans aren’t finalized, but the agreement states that they must include contingency actions if elevated levels of contaminants are detected. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will also oversee Norfolk Southern’s testing of three groundwater monitoring wells located in Pennsylvania as part of the agreement.
Norfolk Southern will pay $15 million in fines for Clean Water Act violations. The company will also have to address environmental and health harms and make various improvements to its safety operations, which the company has estimated will cost $1 billion.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the state’s attorney general submitted comments criticizing the proposed federal settlement, asking for the agreement to include more expansive testing, payment from Norfolk Southern for health treatment costs for those impacted, environmental monitoring beyond two miles out from the derailment site and requiring the company to adopt additional safety measures.
Norfolk Southern also recently reached a $600 million private class-action settlement for residents living within 20 miles of the site. Residents recently had to decide whether to accept up to $25,000 per person for personal injuries in exchange for losing the right to sue later on if someone develops cancer or other serious illness because of the chemical exposure.Keep reading...Show less
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States adopt mixed strategies to balance EV incentives and road funding
As electric vehicles reduce gas tax revenues, many states are charging EV owners additional fees to help fund road maintenance.
In short:
- Pennsylvania will impose a $250 annual fee on electric vehicles, one of the highest in the U.S., as states seek to offset declining gas tax revenues.
- Thirty-nine states have implemented similar fees, with some also cutting other EV incentives, complicating the push toward cleaner transportation.
- Critics argue these fees could hinder EV adoption without significantly addressing transportation funding gaps.
Key quote:
"We’re not at a point where electric cars are in any way, shape or form quote-unquote ‘stealing’ from the gas tax."
— Frank Hornstein, Democratic chair of the Minnesota House Transportation Committee.
Why this matters:
States face a dilemma: they need new revenue sources as gas tax income drops, but increasing costs for EVs may slow their adoption, jeopardizing emissions reduction goals.
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Harris faces skepticism from Pennsylvania voters over fracking stance
Kamala Harris’s history of opposing fracking is a sticking point for many Pennsylvania voters whose livelihoods depend on natural gas.
In short:
- Harris’s previous support for a fracking ban may alienate voters in Pennsylvania, a state where natural gas is economically vital.
- Despite the Biden-Harris administration’s record on energy production, swing voters remain skeptical of Harris’s commitment to the industry.
- The selection of Tim Walz as her running mate, a strong advocate for green energy, further complicates her appeal to these voters.
Key quote:
“There’s already uncertainty with just what does she believe, what she would do.”
— Jeff Nobers, excecutive director of the coalition of union and business leaders Pittsburgh Works Together.
Why this matters:
Winning Pennsylvania is crucial for Democrats, and Harris’s past anti-fracking stance could impact the 2024 election outcome. Balancing green energy goals with economic realities in fossil fuel-dependent states remains a significant challenge for future administrations.
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Biden's clean energy agenda tests support in Pennsylvania's swing region
A new clean energy hub near Pittsburgh, fueled by the Inflation Reduction Act, tests if climate policies can boost Kamala Harris's presidential campaign against Trump.
In short:
- Eos Energy Enterprises is revitalizing a factory in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, producing long-duration zinc-halide batteries, supported by Biden's climate law offering $369 billion in clean energy tax incentives.
- Western Pennsylvania's emerging clean energy sector, including Eos, is crucial for Harris's campaign as the area balances traditional natural gas interests with new renewable energy jobs.
- The Democratic climate agenda faces challenges, with local unions backing a controversial methane-to-hydrogen project, sparking debates over job creation and environmental impact.
Key quote:
“Hopefully, stuff like this signals the return of American manufacturing as we know it.”
— Chris Dellinger, an Eos executive who oversees the company’s manufacturing operations
Why this matters:
Climate policy success in Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state, could significantly influence the outcome of the presidential election. Harris's ability to unite clean energy initiatives with local economic needs will be vital in securing voter support.
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Fracking emerges as pivotal issue in Pennsylvania Senate race
In Pennsylvania's Senate race, fracking has become a focal point as Republican Dave McCormick challenges Democratic incumbent Bob Casey.
In short:
- Dave McCormick is leveraging fracking as a key issue in his Senate campaign against Bob Casey, aiming to appeal to conservative voters while portraying Casey as anti-industry.
- Both McCormick and Casey have similar energy policies supporting natural gas, nuclear power, and clean energy, despite McCormick's focus on Casey's alleged opposition to fracking.
- The Senate race underscores broader electoral concerns about the environment and energy, especially in Pennsylvania, where fracking is a significant economic driver.
Key quote:
“McCormick has been pretty clear that he’s not particularly interested in taking the climate crisis very seriously.”
— Ilyas Khan, hub coordinator for Sunrise Pittsburgh
Why this matters:
Fracking is a contentious issue in Pennsylvania, a key swing state, impacting both the environment and the economy. This race could influence national energy policies and climate strategies amid rising concerns about fossil fuels.
Related EHN coverage:
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Pennsylvania accelerates into carbon capture with new legislation
Pennsylvania's government is advancing a controversial plan to capture and store carbon emissions underground, facing criticism over environmental risks and untested technology.
In short:
- Governor Josh Shapiro signed legislation to promote carbon capture and storage in Pennsylvania, though environmentalists criticize the plan, arguing it overstates benefits and overlooks risks.
- The law sets a new regulatory framework, increasing notification requirements to 75% of landowners for storage sites, and extends state liability for wells from 10 to 50 years after use.
- Some lawmakers and activists fear that carbon capture could repeat issues seen with fracking, including water contamination and inadequate environmental safeguards.
Key quote:
“Declaring a nonexistent technology to be in the public interest defies logic.”
— The Better Path Coalition, a grassroots environmental group
Why this matters:
Carbon capture is part of efforts to reduce emissions, but concerns about safety, effectiveness and potential environmental harm need thorough consideration. Critics argue that relying on unproven technology may distract from more sustainable solutions like renewable energy and stricter emission regulations.
Related EHN coverage:
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Living near oil and gas operations linked to worse mental health in people hoping to become pregnant
“If we’re concerned about healthy pregnancies, focusing on the period before pregnancy may be even more important.”
Living near oil and gas operations, including fracking wells, is linked to stress and depression in people who are planning pregnancies, according to a new study.
Previous research has found that living near oil and gas operations is linked to physical and mental health problems during and after pregnancy including preterm birth, birth defects, low birth weights and increased stress. However, little research exists on the effects of preconception mental health. Some studies suggest that poor mental health during this time period is associated with increased odds of pregnancy complications.
The new study, conducted by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health and published in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first to investigate how living near oil and gas operations affects mental health in people who are hoping to become pregnant.
“There are around 29 studies to date on associations between residential proximity to oil and gas development and adverse birth outcomes,” Mary D. Willis, lead author of the study and assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, told EHN. “That body of work is very focused on the long-term health of infants, which is important, but this work adds to that literature by centering the potentially pregnant person.”
Willis and her colleagues looked at mental health survey data for 5,725 people, including residents across 37 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, who were planning to get pregnant. The study only included people with household incomes below $50,000 a year since they may not have the resources to move away from oil and gas operations if they wanted to.
They found that people who lived within roughly six miles of active oil and gas development were more likely to report moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms than people living 12 to 31 miles away, and that higher levels of active oil and gas activity were linked to higher reported levels of depression. They also found that the closer people lived to oil and gas operations, the higher the intensity of their stress levels.
While the study doesn’t prove that oil and gas operations cause stress and depression, researchers point to factors like changing economic and social dynamics and environmental degradation in communities with oil and gas development as factors that could impact mental health.
“Our findings lend credibility to the hypothesis that this industry, with its boom and bust cycles, brings economic, environmental and social hazards that lead to negative mental health outcomes,” Willis said.
“If we’re concerned about healthy pregnancies, focusing on the period before pregnancy may be even more important, and that time-frame is under-studied,” she added.
The study noted that many of the people in the study who reported elevated stress and depression symptoms lived further away from oil and gas operations than the minimum distance required in many states to protect people in homes, schools and healthcare facilities.
“Our findings lend credibility to the hypothesis that this industry, with its boom and bust cycles, brings economic, environmental and social hazards that lead to negative mental health outcomes.” - Mary D. Willis, Boston University
In Pennsylvania and Texas, for example, the two states with the highest rates of natural gas production, minimum “setback” distances are as small as 200 feet. Pennsylvania’s setback has been increased to 500 feet, but that only applies to newly constructed oil and gas wells.
The findings of the study imply that “these setback distances may not be big enough to protect population health and specifically mental health,” Willis said.
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