A loophole in natural gas industry regulations is causing health concerns for Pennsylvania residents living near fracking areas, with unchecked methane emissions and other pollutants from midstream activities compromising local air quality.
Jon Hurdle reports for Yale Environment 360.
In short:
- Residents near natural gas facilities in Pennsylvania experience health issues due to unregulated midstream emissions, including methane and volatile organic compounds.
- The Environmental Protection Agency's new rule aims to reduce methane emissions but does not address cumulative impacts of minor leaks from midstream activities.
- Legal and environmental experts suggest aggregating minor emissions to classify them as major sources, thereby enforcing stricter regulations.
Key quote:
“Unfortunately, EPA allows this to happen."
— Ilan Levin, associate director at the Austin, Texas, office of the Environmental Integrity Project
Why this matters:
This article highlights a significant environmental and public health issue, where regulatory loopholes in natural gas emissions impact local communities. Understanding the cumulative effect of these emissions is crucial for informed policy-making and protecting public health, particularly in areas with intensive natural gas extraction and processing activities.
