Latest Fracking Awareness Event Planned in Binghamton, NY
Hundreds of concerned New Yorkers and activists at Binghamton's last anti-fracking rally in September 2010. Organizers expect a much larger turnout this weekend. (image: money.cnn.com)
The Finger Lakes Clean Waters Initiative, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the potential dangers of hydraulic fracturing, particularly as a threat to public drinking water, is hosting a two-day event this weekend in Binghamton, NY, the Star Gazette reported.
The event kicks off on Saturday at the Binghamton Riverwalk Hotel and Conference Center, where speakers will give presentations focusing on the health effects of fracking. Attorney Joe Heath will explain how to end a gas lease, with various workshops to follow. Then, Sunday marks the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival – nine local bands performing for free with a suggested $10 donation.
“Saturday is education. Sunday we’re going to rock out at Recreation Park,” said organizer Christopher Tate.
Officials said Binghamton was an ideal location because the Southern Tier is “a focal point” of the natural gas drilling debate.
Biologist, ecologist and author Dr. Sandra Steingraber will be the symposium's keynote speaker on Saturday. (image: facebook.com)
The event is also timely, as New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently filed a lawsuit against several federal agencies for failing to sufficiently review the dangers of fracking and make that information available for public comment before approving extraction plans for the Delaware River Basin area. The Basin itself overlaps four states, and the upper Delaware River supplies drinking water to 9 million New Yorkers.
The complaint states: “EPA has expressed ‘serious reservations about whether gas drilling in the New York City watershed is consistent with the vision of long-term maintenance of a high quality unfiltered water supply,” and goes on to say that scientific studies conducted by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) found that natural gas development would “pose an unacceptable threat to the unfiltered, fresh water supply of nine million New Yorkers, and cannot safely be permitted within the New York City watershed.”
Fracking Update: Methane in Drinking Water Near Drilling Sites
A family in Susquehanna County, PA, protest against natural gas fracking by displaying jugs of tainted drinking water in their yard, after 13 homes in the area were found to have methane in their drinking water supply. (image: Michael J. Mullen, Scranton Times Tribune)
Duke University released results of a fracking contamination study yesterday, showing that of 68 drinking water wells tested in Pennsylvania and New York located within half a mile of a natural gas drilling site, half of them were tainted with “potentially hazardous concentrations” of methane, according to a CNN report.
These findings hardly come as a surprise. Recent fracking probes discovered high radiation levels and dozens of known chemical carcinogens in drinking water sources near drilling sites in multiple states.
“We found concentration levels where you have to worry about explosions,” said environmental studies professor Robert Jackson, one of the project’s authors. He explained that when chemically-laced fracking solution is blasted into the ground, it seeps into water wells through cracks in the bedrock and the concrete or steel barriers gas companies use for the exact purpose of separating the solution and the water table. Jackson believes the intense pressure needed to effectively inject fracking fluids into shale rock is causing the barriers to weaken.
Gas industry officials criticized the findings, stating that many of the drinking water wells in the Duke study already contained methane and it’s not really a problem. Interestingly, it’s true that methane isn’t harmful to drink. But flammable tap water is an obvious home fire hazard, and it isn’t safe to breathe. Plus, methane is arguably one of the worst greenhouse gases; it’s over 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide. In fact, recent research suggests that the methane produced during natural gas extraction and production is worse for the environment than harvesting and producing coal through dirty mountaintop removal mining.
Jackson countered that most of the water wells with very little methane content weren’t near drill sites. Even wells situated on top of vast gas deposits had low levels of methane as long as there wasn’t a drilling rig nearby. However, Jackson noted that his team hadn’t found any of the fracking fluid itself in the drinking water.
Despite undeniable mounting evidence of its dangers, both for people and the environment, the EPA, state and federal governments, and the natural gas industry itself have been slow to regulate hydraulic fracturing. Some House Democrats are pushing a measure that would require energy companies to disclose which chemicals are being used in fracking fluids, but environmental activists and concerned citizens say it’s not nearly enough.
Environment Agency to Heating Oil Users: Protect Yourself from Theft, Leaks
Criminals tampering with tanks can cause oil leaks, a dangerous environmental hazard and an eyesore to boot. (image: nassauoiltank.com)
Criminals who steal heating oil don’t just hurt the homeowners they’re ripping off, they also often cause serious contamination to the environment through leaks and sloppy tank handling. So, the Environment Agency, part of the UK’s Government Agency Intelligence Network, has issued a theft warning and some general advice to heating oil users, OilFiredUp.com reported today.
“The one thing that is often overlooked, particularly where the theft of oil has resulted in damage to a tank, is the potential environmental impact. A leaking oil tank can contaminate surface water and groundwater and the cost of investigating and clean up can run into thousands of pounds,” said Shaun Rowson, Groundwater and Contaminated Land Team Leader.
Heating oil theft and consequent spill pollution is a problem in the United States as well. While theft of an entire tank remains rare, incidents involving siphoning have become more frequent in the Northeastern states where heating oil is used most. Law enforcement officials have said they see the problem as a sign of the times, with unemployment rates and fuel prices still relatively high.
“Being able to act quickly is vital to stop oil pollution spreading and, potentially, reaching important underground water supplies. We would therefore urge people to contact us as quickly as possible if they think there is any risk of pollution as a result of oil theft,” Rowson said. “This will help to minimize the potential impact on the environment, the public and the homeowner.”
Tank locks can go a long way in preventing heating oil thievery. (image: emergencyheatingoil.co.uk)
So what can you do to protect your tank and yard? The EA suggests installing tanks as far as possible from drains and water sources like ponds and streams. Notify police and environmental authorities immediately if you suspect your tank has been tampered with or may be leaking. Get yourself a lock specifically fitted for oil tanks. And like we’re always reminding you at Heat USA, have your entire heating system inspected regularly! Especially tanks and underground feed lines.
West Virginia Rep. Asks White House to Review EPA Coal Mining Regulations
U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall advocated for the coal mining industry, asserting his belief that the EPA needs to operate in a more fair and timely manner. (image: reddogreport.com)
West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall continued criticizing the EPA’s “abusive” actions regarding Appalachian surface coal mining, writing a letter to the White House requesting an examination of the Agency’s mining permit process and heightened enforcement of the Clean Water Act, the Associated Press reported this week. The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is scheduled to examine the EPA’s new clean water permit guidance memo today.
“There are many regulatory actions under way – at the EPA, Office of Surface Mining and elsewhere – that would hurt coal miners and local communities in southern West Virginia,” Rahall said, in a Register-Herald report. “The EPA is stretching its statutory authorities to the limits and doing so in a way that circumvents the rights of the affected communities to comment on how these proposed actions will affect jobs and their economic health and well-being.”
A West Virginian coal miner tests for toxic gas. (image: jetlib.com)
The EPA contended that the policy seeks to protect vulnerable aquatic life and water quality by eliminating the blatantly harmful practice of burying streams with coal mine waste.
Earlier this month, Rahall met with the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment to voice his belief that the EPA regulation unfairly singles out the Appalachia coal mining by not taking public commentary into account, and by handling mining permits inconsistently and extremely slowly.
“I do not know of anyone who opposes clean air and safe water, or who wants our children’s health put at risk due to a degraded environment,” said Rahall. “But balance [between energy development and environmental preservation] cannot be achieved without fairness and equity, and the policies of this EPA, at times, have been anything but fair and equitable when it comes to coal mining in Appalachia.”
More than half the electricity Americans use for home heating is generated by coal.
EPA Releases Latest List of Cleaner Hydronic Heaters
The WoodMaster Flex Fuel indoor/outdoor wood-burning furnace is currently the cleanest hydronic heater on the market. (image: livingthecountrylife.com)
After a rigorous testing period, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a new list of cleaner wood-burning hydronic heaters that will now qualify for the EPA’s Burn Wise program, according to a recent press release. When people talk about residential heating and cooling systems, they’re almost always referring to hydronics: systems that use water to transfer heat.
Two furnaces from WoodMaster topped the list, with standout product performance in categories like heat output rating and annual average emission rate.
“Our WoodMaster Flex Fuel furnaces give consumers the option to choose the least expensive fuel in the area. These furnaces use cord wood, wood pellets or wood chips,” said company president Chuck Gagner. “Fuel flexibility and EPA-tested clean efficiency mean consumers save more money when heating their homes.”
Check out performance test results and the rest of the list here.
The EPA's list primarily included wood pellet and stick burning units, combusted in batch loads or a continuous feed. (image: mnn.com)
Wood-burning heaters for both indoor and outdoor use have come under fire lately for their hazardous, fine particle smoke. Industry officials are hopeful that Clean Air programs in cities with heavy air pollution, partnered with the EPA’s product testing, will improve wood’s image as a heating fuel. The Burn Wise program was created to improve air quality by helping consumers make informed decisions about heating with wood. The goal is to remind Americans of “the importance of burning the right wood, the right way, in the right wood-burning appliance to protect your home, health, and the air we breathe.”
Washington’s Coal Paradox: Using Less but Exporting More
A seaport just north of Washington in Delta, British Columbia, is the busiest coal-export operation on the entire continent. (image: carbonnation.org)
If we know we shouldn’t burn coal in our own homes and neighborhoods, should we really be shipping it overseas for other nations to use? The state of Washington has vowed to become less dependent on coal, recognizing consistent evidence that mining and burning coal is seriously detrimental to both the environment and human respiratory health. So now, environmentalists and coal industry administrators are struggling with Washington’s increased exportation of the “dirty” fuel to China, the Associated Press reported.
Two companies are currently tweaking contracts that would increase their exportation of coal to 24 million and 60 million tons respectively, solidifying Washington as one of the country’s leading exporters of coal. The move holds obvious benefits for the economy, but green energy activists are protesting the spike in exportation, as burning coal in one place instead of another isn’t going to help curb climate change. They expressed concern that if China has access to large amounts of cheap coal, Chinese energy officials could become less motivated to invest in more environmentally friendly fuels.
“It’s a terrible, unprecedented idea,” Brett VandenHueuvel, executive director of nonprofit organization Columbia Riverkeeper, told the Seattle Times. “If we supply China with a large and inexpensive source of coal, then they’re more likely to just keep burning it.”
So far, China has demonstrated a clear commitment to clean energy by developing improved solar, wind, and geothermal systems, and enforcing strict emissions control. However, Asia is growing so quickly that demand for all forms of energy, both renewable and non-renewable, has skyrocketed. While over 50% of American households use coal for heat and power; in China, it’s almost 70%.
It’s likely we haven’t heard the last of this debate. Coal use in the United States has leveled off, even declining in several areas – yet, the coal mining industry itself is still thriving and growing.
CT Town Latest to Consider Banning Wood-Burning Furnaces
Air in neighborhoods with outdoor wood furnaces contains far more harmful particulates than those without. (image: lehighvalleylive.com)
The town council of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, is debating a proposed ordinance that would completely ban wood-burning furnaces, the Hartford Courant reported this week. If passed, the ordinance would prohibit use of outdoor wood-burning furnaces anywhere in town, with violations resulting in $100 fines.
When council member Barbara Surwilo originally introduced the bill last month, she cited the growing evidence that wood smoke causes large amounts of harmful air pollution and respiratory problems.
“We should be in front of the curve, not in the back of the curve in this critical health issue,” Surwilo said.
Wood smoke contains particulate matter that can actually damage DNA, as well as unhealthy amounts of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrochloric acid – chemicals strongly linked to cancer and cardiopulmonary disease. Nancy Alderman, president of North Haven’s Environment and Human Health Inc., testified that outdoor wood-burning furnaces are a “flawed technology,” and added they have a significantly negative impact on property values.
In California, it's illegal to use a wood-burning furnace when air pollution rises above federal levels. (image: ecohome-charlie.blogspot.com)
However, during the most recent discussion of the issue on Monday, all three of the council’s Republican members said they’d vote against the ban, saying it should be a decision left to the state. They pointed out that while many cities are cracking down on outdoor wood-burning furnaces, there’s a widespread lack of regulation on fireplaces and indoor wood-burning stoves.
“I’m not going to support the ordinance,” said council member Frank Szeps. “There are too many loose ends to this.”
Unless it’s delayed further, the final vote will take place next month. However, if Rocky Hill waits much longer the state may make the decision for them. A bill is currently pending before the General Assembly that seeks to ban outdoor wood furnaces throughout Connecticut, with the exception of agricultural dwellings.
New Zealand’s Auckland Council Considers Solar Heating Incentives
A couple of happy alternative energy designers in Auckland (image: stuff.co.uk)
According to Radio New Zealand, Auckland residents use less than 10% of New Zealand’s solar water heating systems. On average, Auckland residents install around 275 solar heating systems every year, but considering that Auckland is the country’s largest urban area with more than 1.4 million residents, environmentalists and green energy advocates think they can do better.
To keep pace with the rest of the country, later this week the Auckland Council’s Environment and Sustainability Forum will likely approve a proposal to install 250 solar heating systems in homes and businesses around the city. If the systems perform well and receive good consumer reviews, the Council will implement an incentive program to help residents install solar heating systems with professional suppliers and work out affordable payment plans. It will be New Zealand’s largest solar energy incentive to date.
Iris Donoghue, chair of West Auckland environmental group EcoMatters, said she expects the measure to be very popular, and noted that high startup installation costs often deter consumers from switching to solar energy even though they almost always make their money back in the long run. Based on data collected from similar solar projects, officials expect the average household to save 75% on their hot water bills and around $500 on annual electric bills. Currently, hydropower and hydroelectricity are New Zealand’s primary sources of renewable energy.
Auckland mayor Len Brown encouraged financial incentives for residents switching to green energy as part of his plan to move forward on 100 projects in his first 100 days in office, stuff.co reported. If approved, the solar heat incentives should help achieve the Economic Development Ministry’s goal of generating 83% of New Zealand’s electricity from renewable resources by 2030.
Alabama Coal Plant Fined $450,000 for Clean Air Violations
The Tennessee Valley Authority's Widows Creek coal plant in Stevenson, Alabama (image: flickr.com)
Because of its abundance and affordability, coal is the largest domestically-produced source of energy in the United States. About half of the energy we use to heat and power our homes comes from coal. However, it’s becoming common knowledge that coal mining, production, and combustion is literally a dirty business, for both the environment and public health.
The latest incident involving pollution from the coal industry came earlier this week when the EPA fined the Tennessee Valley Authority $450,000 for violating the Clean Air Act at its Widows Creek coal plant in Stevenson, Alabama. According to The Huntsville Times, “ongoing and pervasive” duct leaks that occurred between 2002 and 2005 caused the plant to far exceed federal limits for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. The EPA said plant administrators were cooperative throughout the process, and took action to completely replace the faulty duct system. TVA reported the new technology would help the Widows Creek plant reduce approximately 9,700 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions and 4,600 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions.
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time this particular plant has leaked toxins into the surrounding environment. Two years ago, one of the facility’s waste ponds ruptured and spilled toxic-laden coal ash into the nearby Widows Creek.
Study: Smoke from Wood-Burning Heaters Damages DNA
New studies suggest heating with wood probably isn't the healthiest way to go, especially if you have children. (image: ehow.co.uk)
Recent scientific studies revealed that airborne particles in wood smoke can trigger gene changes and DNA damage similar to those caused by car exhaust and cigarette smoke, according to Environmental Health News. If you heat your home with a wood pellet stove or keep an outdoor wood-burning furnace, you may want to invest in an air quality monitor, or even a different heating system, to ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk.
Because wood is a natural, renewable resource, many consumers think of it as a harmless, affordable fuel choice. However, the tiny airborne particles produced from burning wood are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even be passed into the bloodstream.
“We found that wood smoke PM [particulate matter] has similar toxicity and effects on DNA as that of vehicle exhaust particles,” said Steffen Loft, researcher at the University of Copenhagen. The tiny particles contain high amounts of chemicals commonly linked to cancer and cardiopulmonary disease.
When scientists added wood smoke particulates to cultures of human lung cells, the reaction created large amounts of strong, reactive oxidants known to injure cells and damage DNA. They also discovered that wood smoke particulates were more powerful than other kinds of air pollution in causing potentially cancerous changes to DNA and “activating genes linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, which is a possible mechanism for atherosclerosis, asthma and other diseases.” Oxidative stress is when the body can’t completely stop toxins from damaging components in cells, proteins, and DNA. It’s linked to heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and many other ailments. Results of the study were recently published in an issue of Chemical Research in Toxicology.
“In the Third World, more than a million women and children die annually…due to massive exposure [from cooking on indoor] open wood fires. However, that cannot be translated to use of wood stoves in the developed world,” Loft said. “We lack proper population-based data to estimate the risks of that like we can for traffic emissions.”
However, some data is being collected. A recent Canadian study linked neighborhood wood stove and fireplace use with increased ear infections in children. Their analysis of 45,000 children and the air in their environments revealed that kids with the highest exposure to wood smoke were 32% more likely to visit the doctor for painful ear problems.
Cells exposed to wood smoke, and the free radicals it contains, showed significantly damaged DNA. (image: burningissues.org)
Legislation Addressing the Problem
As we learn more about the adverse affects of heating with wood, environmentalists and public health advocates have pushed for regulation. Their efforts are slowly coming to fruition. In California, after the state’s Air Resources Board released a statement that cardiopulmonary disease accounts for around 9,200 premature deaths, officials enacted the ‘Check Before You Burn Program,’ which bans wood burning on days when air quality is especially poor. Southern California has some of the worst air particle pollution in the country, but the program is having a positive, effective influence and air quality is slowly improving.
Also, Indiana lawmakers recently voted to impose stricter regulations on outdoor wood-burning furnaces, and cities in Alaska and Washington are offering cash incentives to residents who upgrade their wood-burning appliances with more eco-friendly heating devices. So – if you’re a new homeowner weighing your home heating options, consider using a fuel other than wood; and if you do opt for wood, make sure you install an airtight ventilation system along with it and follow all local air quality regulation laws.
