Gov. Wolf proposes Marcellus Shale health registry
Saturday, March 7, 2015
In order to create a Marcellus Shale health registry, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf proposed a $100,000 funding increase to the state Department of Health, according to StateImpact Pennsylvania.
The health registry will monitor people who live close to Marcellus Shale wells. Some people don’t think $100,000 is enough to fully fund long term health impacts, though.
The Pennsylvania Senate recently approved Senate Bill 375, which would form a nine member panel in charge of monitoring oil-and-gas-related health impacts.
Via: StateImpact Pennsylvania > Wolf budget includes $100K for Marcellus Shale health registry
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.