News Summary
Pennsylvania is grappling with the management of radioactive waste from its fracking industry two decades after the practice became prevalent. Recent studies reveal that wastewater from fracking contains significantly higher levels of radium than previously understood, posing potential health risks. Despite the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) studying landfill leachate, it has not provided a timeline for its findings. Experts are calling for stronger regulations to ensure public safety amidst growing concerns about contamination and health impacts.
Pennsylvania Grapples with Decades-Old Radioactive Fracking Waste Problem
Pennsylvania continues to face a significant challenge in managing the radioactive waste generated by its fracking industry, two decades after the practice became widespread. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has confirmed it is studying the radioactivity of landfill leachate, the liquid that drains from landfills, but has not provided a timeline for the publication of its findings.
Recent research from the University of Pittsburgh indicates that wastewater produced from fracking in the Marcellus formation is considerably more radioactive than previously understood. This research, based on samples from 561 well pads collected between 2012 and 2023, found that the wastewater contained significantly higher levels of radium compared to what early studies in the fracking boom had identified.
The tracking of oil and gas waste across Pennsylvania remains a “logistical mess.” An analysis of state records from 2017 to 2024 revealed discrepancies amounting to almost 1.4 million tons between the waste quantities that operators reported sending to landfills and what those landfills reported receiving.
Mounting Evidence of Environmental and Health Risks
The fracking process brings naturally occurring radioactive elements such as radium, uranium, and thorium from deep underground to the surface as byproducts. Experts have long expressed concerns about the potential health and environmental impacts of this waste. Exposure to radium, for instance, is associated with an increased risk of cancer, anemia, and cataracts.
Environmental studies have detected radioactive sediment downstream from the discharge points of some landfills and wastewater treatment plants. Elevated levels of radioactive materials, particularly radium, have been found in rivers and streams located near municipal wastewater treatment facilities that process runoff from landfills accepting fracking waste.
Beyond radioactivity, fracking operations have been linked to broader air and water pollution. This pollution is also associated with various illnesses, including cancer, asthma, and birth defects. A 2023 study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, for example, concluded that children residing within one mile of a natural gas fracking well were up to seven times more likely to develop lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, compared to those living beyond a five-mile radius of such wells.
Concerns Over Waste Disposal Practices
A significant portion of the solid waste generated by fracking, specifically 72 percent, is disposed of in landfills within Pennsylvania’s borders. Alarms for radioactivity are triggered daily, on average, by trucks transporting oil and gas waste to these landfills.
Despite its often toxic and radioactive nature, fracking waste is not consistently classified as “hazardous” due to existing industry loopholes, allowing it to be deposited in municipal landfills. Over 30 landfills across the state accept fracking waste, creating potentially toxic conditions for nearby communities. The liquid waste, known as leachate, that filters through these landfills frequently makes its way to municipal wastewater treatment facilities. However, these wastewater treatment plants are not mandated to test for radium.
There is no universally accepted safe method for the disposal or management of radioactive fracking waste. Current disposal methods include dumping in landfills, on-site burial, or injection into deep wells, each presenting its own set of environmental and health concerns. The pervasive issue of poor record-keeping exacerbates the problem, with approximately 800,000 tons of oil and gas waste unaccounted for in a 2023 study, and 1.4 million tons in a 2024 analysis.
Calls for Stricter Regulations and Accountability
The DEP’s most recent comprehensive study on radioactivity in oil and gas waste is more than nine years old, despite the agency having previously indicated the need for follow-up investigations. This delay has fueled calls for updated research and more stringent oversight.
Environmental advocacy groups are pressing for stronger regulations, including proposals to increase the minimum setback distances of fracking wells from homes, schools, and water sources. The DEP has announced it will consider a petition to expand these setback distances.
A landmark 2020 grand jury report highlighted the DEP’s failures in protecting the public from the health impacts of fracking and made eight recommendations for reform. However, five years later, few of these recommendations have been fully implemented. The Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry trade group, maintains that waste is effectively managed and poses no health risks to the public or workers.
Background: Two Decades of Fracking in Pennsylvania
Fracking has been a cornerstone industry in Pennsylvania for the past two decades, extracting natural gas from the rich Marcellus Shale deposit. Looking ahead, a new surge in fracking output is anticipated. This increase is driven by the need to meet the substantial electricity demands of several data centers currently planned for Western Pennsylvania.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the current challenge Pennsylvania faces regarding fracking waste?
Pennsylvania, 20 years into fracking, still faces significant challenges in managing its radioactive waste.
Is the DEP studying the radioactivity of fracking waste?
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is currently studying the radioactivity of landfill leachate but has not provided a timeline for the publication of its findings.
How radioactive is fracking wastewater in Pennsylvania?
New research from the University of Pittsburgh indicates that fracking wastewater from the Marcellus formation is significantly more radioactive than previously understood, based on samples from 561 well pads between 2012 and 2023. This wastewater contained much more radium than earlier studies found.
How much fracking waste is unaccounted for in Pennsylvania?
An analysis of state records from 2017 to 2024 revealed discrepancies totaling almost 1.4 million tons between what operators reported sending to landfills and what landfills reported receiving.
What are the health risks associated with radioactive fracking waste?
Radium exposure, linked to radioactive elements brought to the surface by fracking, is associated with an increased risk for cancer, anemia, and cataracts. Fracking has also been linked to illnesses including cancer, asthma, and birth defects.
Are there regulations for disposing of radioactive fracking waste?
Fracking waste is often toxic and radioactive, but due to loopholes, it is not always labeled “hazardous” and can be disposed of in municipal landfills. There is no safe way to dispose of or manage radioactive fracking waste.
Are there calls for changes to fracking regulations in Pennsylvania?
Environmental advocacy groups are pressing for stronger regulations, including proposals to increase the minimum setback distances of fracking wells from homes, schools, and water sources. The DEP has announced it will consider a petition to expand these setback distances.
Key Features of Pennsylvania’s Fracking Waste Issue (State-level)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Duration of Issue | Twenty years into fracking, Pennsylvania has yet to reckon with its radioactive waste. |
| DEP Study Status | DEP is studying the radioactivity of landfill leachate but offered no timeline for publication. |
| Wastewater Radioactivity | New research from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that the wastewater created by fracking the Marcellus formation is far more radioactive than previously understood. |
| Unaccounted Waste | Discrepancies totaling almost 1.4 million tons between reported and received waste from 2017-2024. |
| Environmental Impact | Radioactive sediment found downstream from some landfills’ and wastewater treatment plants’ outfalls. |
| Health Impact | Radium exposure linked to increased risk for cancer, anemia, and cataracts. Children near wells are seven times more likely to suffer from lymphoma. |
| Disposal Method | Seventy-two percent of solid waste ends up in landfills within state borders. Fracking waste often disposed of in municipal landfills due to loopholes. |
| Alarms at Landfills | A truck carrying oil and gas waste sets off a radioactivity alarm every day on average. |
| Regulatory Status | DEP’s last comprehensive study on radioactivity in oil and gas waste is over nine years old. Environmental groups call for expanded well setback distances. |
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Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER
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