Inauguration Day

Dignitaries in overcoats are surrounded by the familiar patriotic bunting from one end of the capital to the other. It is the dawn of a new day in Pennsylvania politics; today Tom Corbett takes the oath of Governor. A time to celebrate for some. But, for those concerned with the consequences of drilling the Marcellus Shale, this is no time for celebration. 

Hundreds came to the party to protest the laissez-faire stance the new Governor has towards this potentially toxic practice (see footage under videos). The protestor are looking for a moratorium on further drilling on private and public lands in Pennsylvania. They also aim to protect the state’s water and air from the effects of drilling and fracking.

The group also wants to end the fast tracking of new well permits in Pennsylvania. This and their other goals are unlikely, given the Governor's pro-business campaign promises and track record. This is a fight that has to be taken to the people in town hall meetings and educational events around the state. 

What the Frack!?!

One of the first questions people have when it comes to this issue: what is fracking? Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of forcing water, chemicals and sand down a well - as far as ten thousand feet - at high pressure. The mixture then fractures the Marcellus Shale formation, releasing natural gas which travels up the well. ProPublica has a fantastic graphic of the process  for you visual learners. 

What Goes Down...

What becomes of this mixture that is forced down the well? Just what you’d think, it comes up. The now contaminated water is placed in open pits, or fracking ponds, while it waits for transport to a treatment facility. The issue of treating is a sticky one, numerous news outlets and citizens have caught tankers dumping their water around Western Pennsylvania, as shown in one of the videos. 

This toxic water is at the root of the Marcellus Shale controversy. This water can get into our drinking supply underground as well as via surface spills. After a recent spill, the USDA quarantined cattle that drank contaminated water. Unfortunately, us humans are not afforded the same safeguards. The gas industry is exempt from federal clean and safe water acts. 

Toxic Mix

Anita Barkin, DrPH, CRNP, Director of University Health Services at Carnegie Mellon University, provided me with a number of resources that describe the chemical mix forced down these wells. The chemical component is actually made up of 80 different chemicals . Experts like Dr. Barkin tell us that 93% of these chemicals cause adverse health effects, 60% are on the dreaded carcinogen list and 40% are endocrine disrupters- substances that interfere with the hormones responsible for cell metabolism, reproduction, development and behavior. The impact on public health is not to be taken lightly. 

The Road Ahead

I find it fitting that my first posting to this blog I am so energized over, comes on inauguration day. It is the dawn of a new day. What’s next? Stay tuned.