By Kara Holsopple, The Allegheny Front

This article was first posted on The Allegheny Front website May 3, 2024--

Waste from the oil and gas industry plays a central role in science journalist Justin Nobel‘s new book Petroleum-238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It.

Nobel spent seven years researching and reporting the book, which looks at the dangers of radioactivity in the industry through history, industry documents, and interviews with workers and people working on changing practices that potentially put public health at risk.

The Allegheny Front’s Kara Holsopple recently spoke with Nobel about the book.

Click Here to read the entire article.

Upcoming Events:

-- May 19: Mountain Watershed Association: Books & Brews With Rolling Stone, Book Author Justin Nobel, Noon to 2:00 p.m. At Bloom Brew, West Newton, Westmoreland County.

-- Better Path Coalition: On Demand: Brown Bag Briefing By Justi Nobel On His New Book Petroleum 238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret And the Grassroots Fight To Stop It

NewsClips This Week:

-- The Allegheny Front: New Book Takes On Radiation Dangers In Oil & Gas Industry

-- ABC27: Environmental Advocacy Groups Rally At Capitol For Action On Gas, Oil Industry

-- Sen. Muth, Environmental Advocates Join Author Justin Nobel At Capitol To Discuss Oil/Gas Industry Hazardous Waste

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Ohio AG Wants PA’s Austin Master Services CEO Jailed For Failing To Cleanup Oil & Gas Waste Plant In Martins Ferry

-- The Allegheny Front: Ohio AG Wants PA Company Held In Contempt For Failing To Cleanup Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste

-- Beaver County Radio: Study: PA Ranks High For Health Impacts Of Oil & Gas Flaring Emissions

-- Scientific American: Gas Stove Pollution Lingers In Homes For Hours Even Outside The Kitchen

-- The Guardian: Gas Stoves Increase Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure Above Health Standards Disproportionately Affecting People Of Color and Low-Income People

-- Inside Climate News: Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Promised Prosperity, But To Some Residents It’s Become A ‘Shockingly Bad’ Neighbor 

Related Articles - Oil & Gas Health Impacts:

-- New Penn State Study Finds Runoff From Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Dumped On Unpaved Roads Contains Pollutants That Exceed Human-Health, Environmental Standards  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project - Part 1: Personal Narrative Of Environmental, Health Impacts From Oil & Gas Drilling On Siri Lawson, Warren County [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project - Part II: Personal Narrative Of Environmental, Health Impacts From Oil & Gas Drilling On Siri Lawson, Warren County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Reports Shale Gas Operations Sent Over 138,000 Cubic Feet Of Radioactive TENORM Waste To Low-Level Radioactive Waste Facilities For Disposal In 2022 - Over  911,000 Cubic Feet Since 2017  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts From Natural Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- 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]

-- 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]

-- Environmental Health Project Finds Results ‘Very Concerning’ From University Of Pittsburgh Studies Showing Links Between Natural Gas Development And Lymphoma Cancer, Worsening Asthma Conditions, 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 Invites Citizens To File Environmental Health Complaints Related To Natural Gas Development; Health Will Also Review Environmental Test Results  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: Gov. Shapiro Must Acknowledge Health Risks Of Natural Gas Development And Take Meaningful Action To Protect The Public  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: Body Of Evidence Is 'Large, Growing,’ ‘Consistent’ And 'Compelling' That Shale Gas Development Is Having A Negative Impact On Public Health; PA Must Act  [PaEN]

-- 9th Compendium Of Studies On Health & Environmental Harms From Natural Gas Development Released - ‘The Rapidly Expanding Body Of Evidence Compiled Here Is Massive, Troubling And Cries Out For Decisive Action’  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: PA’s Natural Gas Boom - What Went Wrong? Why Does It Matter?  What Can We Do Better To Protect Public Health?  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: Setback Distances And The Regulations We Need To Protect Public Health From Oil & Gas Facilities  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: How DEP Issues Permits For Shale Gas Facilities Without Considering Cumulative Impacts - How New Facilities Will Add To Existing Pollution Loads And Impact The Area  PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 27 to May 3 - Hunting Abandoned Quaker State Wells; Conventional Well Dumpster Fire; Multiple Water Withdrawal Violations  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 4 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 73 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 4 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Senate Republicans Pass Bill Authorizing An Authority To Take Over Permitting Large-Scale Energy Projects; Eliminating Public Comment; Waiving Any Regulation; Providing Immunity From Prosecution; Barbers Reviewing Permits?  [PaEN]

-- Bill Reported Out Of Senate Committee Would Allow Pipelines Like Mariner East To Apply For Waivers Of Any PUC Regulation, Law Or Policy  [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Says It’s A ‘Terrific Lie’ To Say It Is Responsible For Abandoning Thousands Of Wells; Industry To Change Definition So They Can Avoid Responsibility  [PaEN]

-- EDF: US House Passes Bill To Locate Abandoned/Orphaned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells, Improve Well Plugging Technology [PaEN]

-- The Allegheny Front: New Book Takes On Radiation Dangers In Oil & Gas Industry  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Anticipates Adequate Electric Generation Resources To Meet Summer Demand Under 'Anticipated Conditions'  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: FERC, NERC Review Of Winter Storm Gas Infrastructure Failures Lacks Transparency, Provided Insufficient Scrutiny On Impacts - By Union Of Concerned

-- Reuters: US Oil, Gas Production Rebounds In Feb. After Extensive Winter Storm Disruptions

NewsClips:

-- Capital & Main: US Oil/Gas Production Is Booming; So Are The Industry’s Donations To Its Republican Allies [PA Will See A ‘Flood Of Money From The Industry’]

-- PennLive: PA Senate Republicans Pass Bill Allowing Large-Scale Energy Projects To Bypass State Agencies

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Committee Advances Bill To Allow Utility Companies To Request A Waiver For Any Law Or Regulation Enforced By The PUC [Senate Bill 1174]

-- ABC27: Environmental Advocacy Groups Rally At Capitol For Action On Gas, Oil Industry

-- Sen. Muth, Environmental Advocates Join Author Justin Nobel At Capitol To Discuss Oil/Gas Industry Hazardous Waste

-- The Allegheny Front: New Book Takes On Radiation Dangers In Oil & Gas Industry

-- Center For Coalfield Justice, Partners Host May 4 Book Signing In Washington County With Justin Nobel, Author of Petroleum 238: Big Oil's Dangerous Secret  [PaEN]

-- Better Path Coalition: On Demand: Brown Bag Briefing By Justi Nobel On His New Book Petroleum 238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret And the Grassroots Fight To Stop It

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Ohio AG Wants PA’s Austin Master Services CEO Jailed For Failing To Cleanup Oil & Gas Waste Plant In Martins Ferry

-- The Allegheny Front: Ohio AG Wants PA Company Held In Contempt For Failing To Cleanup Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste

-- Beaver County Radio: Study: PA Ranks High For Health Impacts Of Oil & Gas Flaring Emissions

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: State Agencies Aren’t Listening To The People Who Produce Energy As The Develop Policy - By Mark Caskey, Steel Nation [Gas Industry-Related Business]

-- The Hill: Biden’s Pause On New LNG Gas Export Facility Permits Could Complicate Pennsylvania Strategy  [LNG Export Capacity Will Double During Pause; PA Shale Gas Coalition Wants To Export PA Gas To China, Our Competitor]

-- Williamsport Editorial: LNG Gas Permit Ban Is Simply Unreasonable  [The Pause-- Not Ban--  Is On NEW Export Projects, LNG Export Capacity Will Double During Pause; PA Shale Gas Coalition Wants To Export PA Gas To China, Our Competitor] 

-- Inside Climate News: Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Promised Prosperity, But To Some Residents It’s Become A ‘Shockingly Bad’ Neighbor 

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Green Hydrogen: A Climate Change Solution Or Fossil Fuel Bait And Switch?

-- Reuters: Texas Gas Producers Turn To Flaring To Dispose Of Excess Natural Gas Amid Weak Prices  [Will PA Producers Do The Same?]

-- Reuters: US Stands To Lose Canadian Natural Gas When LNG Gas Canada Terminal Starts Up 

-- Bloomberg: Federal Trade Commission Alleges Shale Producer Scott Sheffield [Pioneer]  Tried To Collude With OPEC To Prop Up Crude Oil Prices By Coordinating Production Levels

-- Financial Times: Federal Trade Commission OPEC Collusion Claim Against US Shale Oil Producer Sets Off Tremor In Oil Patch

-- Bloomberg: Texas Utility Makes Case Pipeline Prices Unfairly Drove Up Gas Prices In 2021 Storm

-- WSJ: In America’s Biggest Oil/Gas Field, The Ground Is Swelling And Buckling 

[Posted: May 4, 2024]

5/6/2024