On September 1, The Center Square reported the state Department of Health is inviting citizens to file environmental health complaints related to natural gas development.

Since the form launched on August 11, the Department said it received 53 complaints-- two to three complaints a day.

The invitation was being made “In the wake of a recent state-commissioned report from the University of Pittsburgh that investigated a possible link between cancer, asthma and natural gas development, the Department of Health said the online complaint form will guide residents through the process and make it easier for the state to respond.”  Read more here.

It is also after an apology by the Department of Health for not taking the health concerns of residents more seriously that live in natural gas producing areas of the state.  Read more here.

In April, the Department of Health also published the Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan that identified Environmental Health as one of the eight biggest health issues affecting Pennsylvanians.  Read more here.

The assessment further identified rising health issues related to natural resource extractions [defined by the Health Department as oil and gas development] and the health impacts resulting from climate change as two of the top five threats affecting health outcomes of Pennsylvanians.   Read more here.

Click Here to file a health complaint with the Department of Health’s Division of Environmental Health Epidemiology.

Review Test Results

The Department of Health’s website says-- “Upon request, the department will review environmental test results from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or a state accredited lab when available. 

“We will also interpret the results to determine health impacts. Individuals may consult with their physician, and if requested, the department will provide a list of environmental health physicians for additional follow-up.”

Visit Health’s Oil and Natural Gas Production Health Concerns webpage for more information.  Questions should be directed to: env.health.concern@pa.gov or call 717-787-3350.

To learn more about health impacts of natural gas development, visit the Environmental Health Project website.

Resource Links:

-- EHP Fact Sheet: Health Risks To Children From Shale Gas Development

-- EHP Fact Sheet: Asthma And Shale Gas Development

-- EHP Fact Sheet: Shale Gas Development And Cancer

-- EHP Fact Sheet: Particulate Matter And Shale Gas Development

-- EHP Fact Sheet: Tips For Talking To Your Health Care Provider

-- Click Here for more information from the Environmental Health Project

NewsClips - Health Study:

-- TribLive: Environmental Advocates Weight In On State Dept. Of Health, Pitt Study Of Natural Gas Development Health Impacts

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Residents Call For Action After Pitt Study Links Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Childhood Lymphoma

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Residents Call For Action After Health Studies Link Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Lymphoma

-- The Center Square: Natural Gas Well Setbacks May Not Be Protective Enough After Health Impact Study Results

-- Warren Times: Natural Gas Well Setbacks Questioned After Health Impact Studies

-- AP: Pennsylvania Study Suggests Links Between Shale Gas Wells And Asthma; Lymphoma In Children

-- The Allegheny Front: Pitt Researchers Find Higher Risks For Lymphoma And Asthma For Those Living Near Shale Gas Development, But ‘No Association’ To Ewing Sarcoma Cancer

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak/Hanna Webster: ‘Is It Safe To Live Here?’: Questions Loom At Presentation Of Reports On Shale Gas Development And Health In Southwestern PA

-- Observer-Reporter - Karen Mansfield: Pitt Study Shows Link Between Fracking, Increased Lymphoma, Asthma Reactions

-- KDKA: PA Study Suggests Links Between Shale Gas Development And Asthma, Lymphoma In Children

-- NextPittsburgh: Natural Gas Development Raises Risks Of Asthma; Lymphoma In Children, Pitt Study Reveals

-- Inquirer - Will Bunch: Does Anyone Care About The Study Linking PA Natural Gas Development To Cancer In Kids?

-- TribLive Editorial: Studies Of Natural Gas Development Point To Health Costs

-- Bloomberg Column: Cancer In Kids Is Too High A Price For Cheap Natural Gas - By Mark Gongloff

-- Observer-Reporter: State, County Elected Leaders Take Proactive Steps To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Shale Gas Development Linked To Increases Cases Of Lymphoma In PA Children, Study Finds

-- The Hill: PA Research Suggests Link Between Natural Gas Development And Asthma, Childhood Lymphoma

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: DEP Plans To Tighten Regulations On Natural Gas Drilling, Including Recommendations For 2020 Grand Jury Report

-- Observer-Reporter: Flaws In University Of Pittsburgh’s School Of Public Health’s Studies Of Natural Gas Development’s Impact On Public Health - By David Callahan, President & Lobbyist For Marcellus Shale Gas Industry

-- Delco Times: Chester Bankruptcy Receiver Warns Of Projects That Could Handcuff City Finances And Negatively Impact Residents’ Health On Heels Of  Hearing On Proposed LNG Natural Gas Export Project In The City  [PDF of article]

-- Forbes Survey Lists Best Employers By State: No Natural Gas Companies Are On The List Of Top 97 Companies In PA; Sheetz Is #20

Related Articles - Health Study:

-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Studies Find Shale Gas Wells Can Make Asthma Worse; Children Have An Increased Chance Of Developing Lymphoma Cancer; Slightly Lower Birth Weights  [PaEN]

-- Between The Lines Podcast: Pediatrician Dr. Ned Ketyer Explains The Results Of New Studies Of The Health Impacts Of Natural Gas Development On Children And Adults  [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Apologizes For Not Listening To Communities Suffering Health Impacts From Shale Gas Development; New Health Study Results ‘Just The Tip Of The Iceberg’  [PaEN]

-- New State Health Plan Identifies Health Issues Related To Natural Resource Extraction, Climate Change In Top 5 Threats To Health Outcomes; No Update On University Of Pittsburgh Oil & Gas Health Impacts Study  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Who Pays For Natural Gas Development’s Harm?  Pennsylvania Should Acknowledge The Clear Fact That Fracking Has Hurt People, Specifically Children  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald Editorial: Health Depends On Regulation Of Oil & Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- 150+ Residents Of Chester Opposed To An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Their Community Let Their Feelings Be Known To The House Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force  [PaEN]

-- Republican Rep. Krupa To Introduce Bill To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells To Protect The Public From Radioactive, Toxic Materials  [PaEN]

-- Lawsuit Filed Against General Assembly, Governor Challenges Constitutionality Of Law Preventing DEP From Protecting Public Health, Environment From Harm Caused By Abandoning Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Aug. 26 to Sept. 1-- Uncontrolled Venting Of Shale Gas Well; 4,600 Gallon Spill Of Shale Gas Wastewater; Cleanup Of Conventional Oil Wastewater Spill Barely Begins  [PaEN]

-- DEP Responds To Emergency Notification Of Uncontrolled Venting Of Natural Gas For Over 10.5 Hours From A Repsol Oil Shale Gas Well; Temporary Evacuation Order Issued In Bradford County  [PaEN]

-- EQT Shale Gas Wastewater Truck Rolls Over Spilling More Than 4,600 Gallons Of Wastewater In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- Do Not Consume Water Advisory Lifted In Village Of Reno; Petro Erie, Inc. Barely Begins Cleanup Of Conventional Oil Wastewater Spill Site That Contaminated The Water Supply In Venango County  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - September 2  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 62 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 2 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

NewsClips This Week - Oil & Gas:

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Reno Water Advisory Lifted  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick: 6 Weeks After Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater, Emergency Water Supply Distributions Continue In Village Of Reno, Venango County  [PDF of article]

-- Warren Times: Natural Gas Well Setbacks Questioned After Health Impact Studies

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Residents Call For Action After Health Studies Link Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Lymphoma

-- Observer-Reporter: Flaws In University Of Pittsburgh’s School Of Public Health’s Studies Of Natural Gas Development’s Impact On Public Health - By David Callahan, President & Lobbyist For Marcellus Shale Gas Industry

-- Marcellus Shale Gas Industry Coalition: University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health’s Studies Of Natural Gas Development’s Impact On Public Health Has Methodological Flaws

-- Delco Times: Chester Bankruptcy Receiver Warns Of Projects That Could Handcuff City Finances And Negatively Impact Residents’ Health On Heels Of  Hearing On Proposed LNG Natural Gas Export Project In The City  [PDF of article]

-- PA Manufacturers Assn: Anti-LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Groups Fail To Realize Local Benefits, Global Implications  [Here’s the other side]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Key To Pennsylvania’s Energy Infrastructure - By Marcellus Shale Gas Industry & PA Building Trades Unions  [Here’s the other side]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA Needs More Pipelines, LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities - By T.J. Rooney, Industry Lobbyist  [Here’s the other side]

-- TribLive: 5th Shale Gas Well Pad Planned In Frazer Twp., Allegheny County; Cecil, West Deer Townships Considering More Well Pad Proposals

-- TribLive: Public To Weigh In On Proposed Olympus Energy/Hyperion Leto Natural Gas Compressor Station In West Deer Twp., Allegheny County

-- TribLive: Murrysville Council Approves Ordinance Regulating Oil/Gas Wastewater Injection Wells, Restricting Them To Business Zones

-- TribLive: PA Physicians For Social Responsibility Offers Gas Imaging Camera To Plum Boro Residents Affected By Home Explosion

-- WTAE: PA Physicians For Social Responsibility To Bring Natural Gas Imaging Camera To Plum Boro To Check For Leaks Thursday

-- Now On Demand: Wasted Water: The Impacts of Fracking’s Water Use from Pennsylvania to Colorado Webinar, FracTracker Alliance

-- Forbes Survey Lists Best Employers By State: No Natural Gas Companies Are On The List Of Top 97 Companies In PA; Sheetz Is #20

-- AP: Federal Rule Allowing Rail Shipments Of LNG Natural Gas On Hold To Allow More Study Of Safety Concerns

-- TribLive: PA Physicians For Social Responsibility Offers Gas Imaging Camera To Plum Boro Residents Affected By Home Explosion

-- Observer-Reporter: Coastal Drilling East LLC, Coastal Well Service LLC Must Pay More Than $80,000 To Former Employee Who Suffered Racial Abuse At Company’s Greene County Site

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Report: Natural Gas Production Plateauing In Appalachian Basin

-- WESA: New Carnegie Museum Of Art Exhibit In Pittsburgh Visits Front Lines Of Fossil Fuels - What It's Like To Live Where Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Are Extracted

-- WTAE: 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Part Of Ohio, May Have Been Felt In Pittsburgh Area  [Earthquakes have been tied to shale gas drilling, injection wells in Ohio, PA ]

-- KDKA: 3rd Earthquake Hits Northeast Ohio In Past Week Shaking Traffic Cameras

Related Articles This Week - Oil & Gas:

-- Between The Lines Podcast: Pediatrician Dr. Ned Ketyer Explains The Results Of New Studies Of The Health Impacts Of Natural Gas Development On Children And Adults  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square: State Dept. Of Health Invites Citizens To File Environmental Health Complaints Related To Natural Gas Development; Health Will Also Review Environmental Test Results  [PaEN]

-- DEP Expands Environmental Justice Protections With Updated Policy, Improved Mapping Tool; Enhanced Permit Reviews Start Sept. 16  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Give Teeth To DEP Environmental Justice Policy  [PaEN]

-- DEP Oil & Gas Advisory Board Meets Sept. 5 On Proposed Permit Fee Changes; Well Plugging Financial Assurances To Prevent Abandonments; Environmental Justice Policy;  Injection Well Primacy  [PaEN]

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Meets Sept. 12 On Environmental Justice Policy; DEP Customer Service Initiatives; Risks With Carbon Capture, Sequestration  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Hears Testimony On Making Electricity Market Reforms To Address Nonperformance Of Natural Gas And Other Generators During Winter Storm Elliot; Transition To Clean Energy  [PaEN]

-- PUC Safety Division Continues Investigation Into Deadly House Explosion In Plum Borough, Allegheny County  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 2, 2023]

9/4/2023