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New research links health problems with oil and natural gas development
Largest-ever survey of Marcellus Shale residents living near gas facilities reveals pattern of health symptoms associated with oil and gas development
October 18th -- The largest health survey to-date of Marcellus Shale residents living near oil and gas development shows a clear pattern of negative health impacts associated with living near gas facilities, according to a new report released by Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project today. Released in association with ShaleTest, Gas Patch Roulette: How Shale Gas Development Risks Public Health in Pennsylvaniasurveyed 108 residents in 14 Pennsylvania counties, and conducted air and water tests at more than half of the households were surveys were completed.
“For too long, the oil and gas industry and state regulators have dismissed community members’ health complaints as ‘false’ or ‘anecdotal’.” said Nadia Steinzor, Earthworks’ Eastern program coordinator and the project’s lead author. She continued, “The industry tries to shift blame onto residents themselves or onto any other possible source than oil and gas facilities, Now we know better. With this research, they cannot credibly ignore communities any longer.”
Gas Patch Roulette’s main conclusions are that
State governments, which are largely responsible for protecting the public from irresponsible oil and gas development, have until recently refused to act on behalf of the public.
“The clear association between gas development and public health impacts revealed by this research demands that states stop ignoring the problem and start developing the standards necessary to protect the public,” said President of Subra Company and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, Wilma Subra. She continued, “It’s clear that nationwide, because of regulatory inaction and a lack of corporate accountability, states are playing roulette with public health.”
Other findings of the report include that
“It is clear from both the lab results and the reported health affects that the exploration of natural gas comes with consequences,” said Calvin Tillman, former mayor of gas-impacted DISH, Texas and founder of ShaleTest. He continued, “Industry needs to step up to the plate and quit denying they are damaging our lives and property. The people in this survey are innocent bystanders that deserve better from the industry that is exploiting them, and the governments that are letting it happen.”
"Pennsylvania and many other states are forging ahead with oil and gas development without considering the public interest,” said Steinzor. “That needs to change. And they can start by refusing to permit new drilling until regulators can assure the public that they’ve taken all necessary to steps to prevent risks to their health.”
More Information:
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Earthworks, and its Oil & Gas Accountability Project (OGAP), is dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of irresponsible mineral and energy development while seeking sustainable solutions.
ShaleTest.org is a non-profit organization that will collect environmental data, and provide environmental testing to lower income families and neighborhoods that are effected by natural gas exploration.
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Friday, October 19, 2012
Health Problems Now Confirmed from Oil & Gas Industry
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Canadian Government Should Be Ashamed of Itself.
The Canadian government should be ashamed of itself - but isn't. And the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) should be apologizing to Canadians but it appears that it won't be happening any time soon either. Those at the helm have failed Canadians. My dear old Dad used to have a saying about such things that went something like this: "Some people don't have enough shame for everything." It would appear that he was right. History it would seem, has taught no lesson to the present Canadian government. But history is far from forgotten in the minds of those poisoned in the Walkton E Coli and the Maple Leaf Listeriosis outbreak in more recent years - and that's what makes this recent E Coli finding at the XL plant so repugnant to Canadians.
The recent contaminated meat recall of XL Foods products has once again rocked this nation's faith in Canada' s food supply. In the wake of the lay-off notice for 2000 of its workers this week - and no statements from either the company or the Canadian government to inform Canadians as to what exactly is going on, the Canadian public is left to fill in the blanks on their own. In our own household we predicted two days ago that XL foods would not be re-opening its doors - at least not without a major re-incarnation.
Reports from CTV's Robert Fife on Canada AM this morning give even more evidence of a bad situation run amok - a situation neglected by management for years, and seemingly avoided by Canada's Food Inspection Agency.
Numerous Deficiencies in the XL plant's safety and hygiene protocols have now been discovered - meat hooks that were not cleaned for an unspecified period of time, drippings of blood accumulating on market-ready meat, obvious major routes of access for vermin left un-remediated - all point to management neglect and obvious public risk.
.
But more disturbing still for many Canadians is the fact that American Inspectors were the first to raise the red flag instead of Canada's own CFIA. It appears that on Sept. 04 E Coli was discovered and about six days laters the Americans stopped shipments of XL Meats into America. It appears that the Americans have a habit of checking on food sources beyond their own borders from time to time and the Americans gave us the first "heads up" so to speak. But while the American Authorities were not satisfied to ship XL meat to American dinner plates, the Canadians were - and proceeded to do so for aproximately another two weeks before forcing the closing of the XL plant and ordering the recall of product in Canada. In that period of time a number of Canadians were sickened by the meat.
Our Canadian Government's response to the crisis was to place the Federal Minister of Agriculture on the hotseat to explain how the crisis happened on national T.V. But, Alas, No! If you've been keeping tabs on this situation you'll know that this never happened. Instead, Canada's Agriculture Minister was camera shy and sent his Deputy into the fray. The Deputy was so junior for the task that he 'flubbed up'. In his earnest desire to assure the Canadian public of the safety of the food on their plates, he stated in his on camera interview that there were 20% more meat inspectors at the XL plant than other plants. This statement of course only left the Canadian public to wonder how Canada's food supply could become contaminated with so many extra CFIA Food Inspectors on the job. His comments only increased concerns for Canadians who were now left to wonder how contaminated meat could get past increased oversight and inspections measures.
The Americans deserve Kudos for being the first to act to remove XL meats from consumer shelves and setting the example to alert the Canadian Authorities as to the gravity of the problem. It's unfortunate that our Canadian Authorities couldn't see fit to act sooner to protect the public health. We owe a debt of gratitude to our Friends and Neighbours in America and maybe, some of us even our lives.
It has now been announced that a Brazilian concern is poised to possibly buy out the troubled XL plant in Brook, Alberta - and none too soon. I'm sure many Canadians are wiping their brows in relief that an experienced meat producing country may well take over. It does however, make Canada look like a third world country. Let's face it - it was the stop shipment order from the Americans that gave pause on the situation and now a company in another foreign country is poised to clean up the mess and take leadership. It's a good thing someone somewhere is willing to take a Leadership role in all of this since a pall of silence seems to have fallen on the Canada's Leadership.
It seems XL Foods management is finally washing something - "their hands" - of the entire situation.
To my mind there is only one thing left to be investigated - and that's the CFIA - because all of this happened "On THEIR Watch".
The recent contaminated meat recall of XL Foods products has once again rocked this nation's faith in Canada' s food supply. In the wake of the lay-off notice for 2000 of its workers this week - and no statements from either the company or the Canadian government to inform Canadians as to what exactly is going on, the Canadian public is left to fill in the blanks on their own. In our own household we predicted two days ago that XL foods would not be re-opening its doors - at least not without a major re-incarnation.
Reports from CTV's Robert Fife on Canada AM this morning give even more evidence of a bad situation run amok - a situation neglected by management for years, and seemingly avoided by Canada's Food Inspection Agency.
Numerous Deficiencies in the XL plant's safety and hygiene protocols have now been discovered - meat hooks that were not cleaned for an unspecified period of time, drippings of blood accumulating on market-ready meat, obvious major routes of access for vermin left un-remediated - all point to management neglect and obvious public risk.
.
But more disturbing still for many Canadians is the fact that American Inspectors were the first to raise the red flag instead of Canada's own CFIA. It appears that on Sept. 04 E Coli was discovered and about six days laters the Americans stopped shipments of XL Meats into America. It appears that the Americans have a habit of checking on food sources beyond their own borders from time to time and the Americans gave us the first "heads up" so to speak. But while the American Authorities were not satisfied to ship XL meat to American dinner plates, the Canadians were - and proceeded to do so for aproximately another two weeks before forcing the closing of the XL plant and ordering the recall of product in Canada. In that period of time a number of Canadians were sickened by the meat.
Our Canadian Government's response to the crisis was to place the Federal Minister of Agriculture on the hotseat to explain how the crisis happened on national T.V. But, Alas, No! If you've been keeping tabs on this situation you'll know that this never happened. Instead, Canada's Agriculture Minister was camera shy and sent his Deputy into the fray. The Deputy was so junior for the task that he 'flubbed up'. In his earnest desire to assure the Canadian public of the safety of the food on their plates, he stated in his on camera interview that there were 20% more meat inspectors at the XL plant than other plants. This statement of course only left the Canadian public to wonder how Canada's food supply could become contaminated with so many extra CFIA Food Inspectors on the job. His comments only increased concerns for Canadians who were now left to wonder how contaminated meat could get past increased oversight and inspections measures.
The Americans deserve Kudos for being the first to act to remove XL meats from consumer shelves and setting the example to alert the Canadian Authorities as to the gravity of the problem. It's unfortunate that our Canadian Authorities couldn't see fit to act sooner to protect the public health. We owe a debt of gratitude to our Friends and Neighbours in America and maybe, some of us even our lives.
It has now been announced that a Brazilian concern is poised to possibly buy out the troubled XL plant in Brook, Alberta - and none too soon. I'm sure many Canadians are wiping their brows in relief that an experienced meat producing country may well take over. It does however, make Canada look like a third world country. Let's face it - it was the stop shipment order from the Americans that gave pause on the situation and now a company in another foreign country is poised to clean up the mess and take leadership. It's a good thing someone somewhere is willing to take a Leadership role in all of this since a pall of silence seems to have fallen on the Canada's Leadership.
It seems XL Foods management is finally washing something - "their hands" - of the entire situation.
To my mind there is only one thing left to be investigated - and that's the CFIA - because all of this happened "On THEIR Watch".
Saturday, October 13, 2012
"People" Parks Becoming Industrual Parks - "Makes No Never Mind" to Shale Gas Industry
New videos – October 11, 2012
(Remember to give a video you like a thumbs-up vote)
MarkWest flare-off w/black fireball
Gasland Avella, Pa
Gas liquids railout
Cross Creek County Industrial Park
Gasland tour of western Pa
Arden Landfill solid waste roll-offs from drilling
“Spilling is just the Beginning”
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