Pa. now requiring landfills to test for radioactive materials from fracking waste
Thursday, July 29, 2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently announced it will require landfills to test leachate for radioactive materials, according to Farm and Dairy.
Leachate is the liquid that is created as waste decomposes and rainwater filters through. Pennsylvania will now require landfills to test it for radioactive materials, specifically, radium, which naturally occurs underground and is commonly found in unconventional oil and gas waste.
Currently, the DEP has found no “significant differences in radium levels between landfills that accept oil and gas waste compared with those that do not” via several investigations and one large-scale study on Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material associated with oil and gas production.
Learn more: Farm and Dairy > Pa. DEP to require landfills to test for radium from fracking waste
Leave a Comment
Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
Additional Shale Maps
Shale FAQ
What are mineral rights?
Mineral rights are the rights of the owner of the property to mine or produce any resources below the surface of the property. Mineral rights are different from surface rights.
Will I get free natural gas if I allow fracking on my property?
Maybe. It depends on your particular lease agreement. Some companies allow property owners a yearly free gas allowance. But, the process of connecting your property to the gas source may be more complicated. Some companies will provide a hookup, others require the landowner to provide one.