fracking in the foodshed
TRANSCRIPT
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Fracking in the FoodshedResearch & Development Of This Presentation:
Martha Goodsell and Chris & Bob Applegate
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What is High VolumeHydraulic (Slickwater)
Horizontal Fracturing -otherwise known as
Fracking?
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State of the Art:It can involve multiple laterals.
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Technologically Advanced
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Industrial in Scale
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Fracking Transforms the Landscape
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The Shale Gas Extraction Process
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Beaver Run Reservoir,
Western Pennsylvania
Deciding Where to Site the Well
Despite track record of spills and leaks.
Step 1.
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Erie, ColoradoFort Worth, Texas
Mt. Pleasant TownshipWashington County , PA
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Aztec, New Mexico
Lathrop, PA
Charlston Township, PA
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Constructing Access Roads andGas Gathering Lines
Step 2.
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Clearing the Well Pad SiteStep 3.
Wells require large,industrial pad sites.Depending on howmany well heads asite may contain, acompleted pad willrange from 5-15acres, but as manyas 40 acres mightbe disturbed in the
constructionprocess.
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Setting Up the Well PadStep 4.
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Step 5. Trucking In Materials and Supplies
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All this heavy traffic
destroys the roads
Tioga County PennsylvaniaS.R. 3001 March 2010
West Virginia
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FracNet: The PA tally over a two dayinspection blitz was 731 inspections, 824written warnings, 421 traffic citations,131 trucks taken off the road, and 14drivers placed out of service.
Dust
Exhaust
CreatesUndesirable
Conditions
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And Leads to Accidents.
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Step 6. Storing the Chemicals
Millions of pounds could be stored at one pad.Is this storage site located in a floodplain?
Is there an evacuation plan?
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Lowering the Drill BitStep 7.
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Cool the Drill Bit
Float theCuttingsOut of the Hole
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Circulating the Drilling MudStep 8.
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Removing the Waste Drilling MudAnd Rock Cuttings From the Bore Hole
How toxic are the cuttings?To what extent are they radioactive?
Step 9.
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Boring the Hole, Temporarily Exposing the Aquifer
Drill stringer
Bore hole
Drinking water can go turbid
Dimock, PA Clearville, PA
Hickory , PA
Chemicals can daylight
Smells like motor oil!
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Sealing the Bore Hole
Adding steel casinghelps seal hole fromaquifer.
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Cement is forceddown through the
well casing, out theannulus, and backup the bore hole.
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methaneToxic fracking fluid
Failed Cement Jobs:Migration Through Natural Fissures
One quarter of all cement jobsfail immediately. Three quarters
fail eventually.
Cornell Engineering Professor and Rock
Fracturing Specialist , Dr. Anthony Ingraffea
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Perforating or Perfing the WellStep 10.
These perfs can also damagethe cement job allowingmethane and fluids to migrate inthe bore hole.
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Acidizing the Well
5,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid
Halliburtons acidizing compound oftencontains Hydrogen Fluoride.
Step 11.
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Step 12. Fracking the Well
The only step industry wants us to look at
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Capturing the Flowback WasteStep 13.
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This waste, composed of brine AND drilling chemicals,is 5 times saltier than sea water!
Trucking Waste Away to. . . ?Step 14.
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Compressor Station, Pleasant Ridge, West Virginia
Giant Diesel Engines
Step 15. Pumping the Gas to Market
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Pipelines Carry the Gas to Market
Millennium Pipeline
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What is a foodshed?And how will
fracking affect it?
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A foodshed outlines a particular area from whichfood is grown, processed, purchased andconsumed.
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Agriculture andIndustrialized Gas Drilling
NY was once able toproduce most of itsfood requirementsand may need to doso again if gasreaches $5/gallon.
Source: The Urban Design Lab, The Earth Institute, Columbia University
h i d h d f h i d
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The Organic Foodshed of the United States
(Source: The Map Room)
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Gas Fields of the United States
Notice the overlap of the Marcellus and the foodshed of the Northeast?
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Mapping New Yorks Grass-based Agricultural Products
Source: Mapping Potential Foodsheds in New York State
Red = Buffalo foodshedGreen = Rochester foodshed
Gold = Syracuse foodshedBlue = Albany foodshedYellow = Poughkeepsie foodshedPurple = NY City foodshed
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Drilling in the Foodshed:Impacts On Agriculture via Land, Water and Air
Chappel Unit in Hopewell TownshipWashington County
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Two Types of Impacts to Farm Land
Physical Impacts on farm land Fragmentation, Compaction, Erosion
Chemical impacts on farm soils Chemical Contamination, Radiation, Heavy Metal
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Farmland Impacts
Fragmentation
Inaccessibility
Explosions Openings for Invasive Species
Compaction and Drainage
Erosion and Sedimentation
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Jonah Field Pinedale, Wyoming
FRAGMENTATION
FRAGMENTATION
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Dish, Texas
FRAGMENTATION
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Allegheny National Forest, PA
FRAGMENTATION
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PA Farmland Fragmentation
Farmers report fragmentation leaves some fields too small to farm.
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Pipelines: Farm Field Fragmentation,Inaccessibility to Timber
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Explosions and
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Openings for Invasive Species
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Soil Compaction and Field Drainage
Often, topsoil is not
removed, set aside,and put back on topover pipe lines.
Proper drainagetechniques are oftennot utilized.
Areas overpipelines are oftenrendered useless foragriculture.
Subsurface
compaction leads tosurface saturation.
Lack or aerationinhibits root growthand biologicalactivity.
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Soil Erosion
St t ff d
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SedimentationStorm water runoff andsedimentation increases totaldissolved solids (TDS) and totalsuspended solids (TSS) increeks and tributaries. When
TDS or TSS increase theamount of light available tooxygen producing plantsdecreases. Eventually theplants die giving off bacteriawhich uses even more oxygen.
As oxygen levels are depletedaquatic life dies.
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Chesapeake Bay: Total Maximum Daily Load
The big debate: Will it beconventional farming orfracking ??? Farmers mayhave to choose whichactivity to pursue.
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SOIL CONTAMINATION
Spills
Leaks
Flares
Explosions
Fires
Experimental Disposal Methods
Municipal sludge
Soil Farming
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Spills
AUGUST 13, 2009Ullom Road, Chartiers TownshipWashington County, Pa
March 30, 2011Clinton County, PA
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Pipeline LeaksA satellite image shows light reflected off of
plants leaves; plants that are stressed by
gas leaks reflect light in different regionsof the spectrum, making it easier todetect leaks in underground methanepipelines.
ULLOM ROAD PONDAPRIL 20, 2009Chartiers TownshipWashington County, Pa
ImpoundmentLeaks
Photo courtesy of Professor Mike Steven
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Flares
Flaring affects soil fertilityby causing the soil tobecome more acidic andreducing the total organiccarbon, nitrate andphosphate content.
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Explosions andFires
W Di l E i
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Waste Disposal Experiments
Misting in Wyoming
Super Mistingin Pennsylvania
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Dust Control in West Virginia
Wetzel, West VirginiaSeptember 27, 2010
The DEC may grant a beneficial use determination forusing flowback water as a road de-icer.
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Forcingwaste into
deepinjectiondisposal
wells.
Earthquakeswarms canoccur.
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Sewage Treatment Plants
BRINE
Radio
Activity HazardousChemicals
HeavyMetals
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Municipal Sludge
CDC REPORT
WARNS OFSLUDGEDANGER -MARCH 2000
EPA cannot assure the publicthat current land application [of
sewage sludge] practices areprotective of human health andthe environment. -- EPA
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Soil Farming
Spreading untreated drill cuttings directly on farmland.
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Will Farm Fields Become Brownfields?Buried wastewater and drill cutting pits are the future superfund sites of America.
May 14, 2009 EnCana Site Garfield County, CO
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What are the Waste Components?
Brine
NORM and TNORMS
Heavy Metals
Of Particular Concern:
BromideChloride
Strontium
Barium
Fracking ChemicalsGlycol ether (2-BE)
Source: Dan Volz at U. ofPittsburgh
Do you want glow in the dark pickles showing up at
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Do you want glow in the dark pickles showing up atthe farmers market?
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Alpha, Beta, Gamma Whats the Difference?
Alpha radiation damages every 10th atom it comes intocontact with. Think of a big heavy bowling ball rolling acrossthe lawn. Alpha particles are absorbed by their surroundingsbut only at close range.
Beta radiation- damages every 3,000th
atom it comes intocontact with. Think of a golf ball rolling across the lawn.
Gamma radiation- damages very few atoms it comes intocontact with. Think of the wind passing over the lawn. Veryfew blades of grass will be bent. Gamma particles pass
through cells without damage, but radiation can be receivedeven though a very long way away.
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RADIOACTIVITY: Irradiation vs. Contamination
Irradiation is direct exposure to radioactive material directlyfrom the source.
Contamination is exposure to radioactive material that lands onobjects such as the skin (or grass), is ingested through foodor water, or is inhaled in dust form.
It is possible to miss contamination of radiation fields. Univ. of Maryland Environmental Safety
Radiation at oil and gas facilities is not normally evaluatedduring site investigations and cleanup. EPA
API (1989) and other studies suggest 1/3 of all producing U.S.oil and gas wells have elevated radiation EPA Office ofRadiation and Indoor Air
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SHALE RADIOACTIVITY Uranium 238
Radium 226
Radon 222
Radium 222
Radon 218LEAD
Mercury 206
http://www.periodictable.com/Isotopes/092.238/index.p.full.html
LEAD
Uranium 234
Thorium 230
Uranium238Uranium 234 is astable isotope
SHALE RADIOACTIVITY Thorium 232
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SHALE RADIOACTIVITY Thorium 232
http://periodictable.com/Isotopes/090.232/index.full.html
Radium 228
Radium 224
Radon 220
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Radium, Radon and Health Risks
The greatest health risk from radium isexposure to Radon EPA
Health risks from exposure to radon are greaterthan all other routine, environmentalexposures to radioactive material combined. -
- EPA
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Radon
Radon can be found in air, soils and water.
Is the second leading cause of lung cancer inthe U.S.
Is naturally prevalent in much of the area.Levels are exacerbated at natural gas wellsites.
No stable isotope (always radioactive givingoff alpha radiation).
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TNORM or TENORM
Material containing radionuclides that are presentnaturally in rocks, soils, water, and minerals andwhose radioactivity has become concentratedand/or exposed to the accessible environment as a
result of human activities.Radium precipitates out at surface: pipes, separators,
storage tanks, gas lines, etc.
API (1989) and other studies suggest 1/3 of allproducing U.S. oil and gas wells have elevatedradiation
S f TNORM t G Fi ld
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Sources of TNORM at Gas Fields
Pipe Scale
Storage Tanks Contaminated Soils
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Heavy Metals in the Soils at Gas Sites
Barium
Cadmium
Chromium Arsenic
Lead
Mercury
Leafy greens, andmany other cropsuptake heavymetals and becomecontaminated. Ittakes four years of
specific successionplantings, anddisposing of thecrops in a landfill, todraw some of theseheavy metals out ofagricultural soils.Some metals cannever be removed.
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Bromide
The spike in bromides in Western Pennsylvania's rivers andcreeks has put some public water suppliers into violation offederal safe drinking water standards.
Bromide facilitates formation of brominated trihalomethanes,
also known as THMs, when it is exposed to disinfectantprocesses in water treatment plants. THMs are volatileorganic liquid compounds.
Studies show a link between ingestion of and exposure toTHMs and several types of cancer and birth defects.
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Water Soluble Strontium
A study published in theJournal of Petroleum Technologyfocusing on the concentrations of selected importantcontaminants in Pennsylvania from Marcellus Shale flowbackwater found that approximately 3,280 mg/L of strontiumor
16,737 poundsare released every day into theMonongahela River.
It is in those high concentrations that strontium posesa risk of bone cancer, cancer of the soft tissue near
the bone, and leukemia.
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Water Soluble Barium
Barium compounds are used by the oil and gas industries tomake drilling mud.
Barium reacts with almost all non-metals, forming poisonouscompounds.
Exposure by inhaling dust, eating plants grown in contaminatedsoils, or drinking water that is polluted with barium. Skincontact may also occur.
Large intake of water soluble barium may cause paralyses andin some cases even death. Small amounts of water-soluble
barium may cause breathing difficulties, increased bloodpressures, heart rhythm changes, stomach irritation, muscleweakness, changes in nerve reflexes, swelling of brains andliver, kidney and heart damage.
BIOACCUMULATION and
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BIOACCUMULATION andThe Food Chain
Bioaccumulation is the process bywhich compounds accumulate inorganisms faster than they can bebroken down by the liver.
Toxic chemicals, heavy metals andradioactive elements taken up byand accumulated by plants arepassed on to animals & humanswhen they eat them.
Heavy metals accumulate in bones.Milk and meat products may
contain heavy metals and radiation.
Yet there is NO food safetyinspection in place for testingagricultural products producedin gas fields for thesecontaminants.
WATER: Quantity and Quality
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WATER: Quantity and Quality
CONSUMPTIVE WATER USAGE
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Each frack job uses onaverage 3.5 million
gallons of water (someuse much more).
Billions of gallons of
clean water used inthe extraction processwill be rendered toxic
and radioactive -perhaps permanently.
CONSUMPTIVE WATER USAGE
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Will there be enough water for agriculture?
The average dairy cow consumes 30gallons of water each day x 365days x 1,436,000 cows in New York.
It takes 250,000 gallons of water togrow an acre of corn x 550,321 acresof corn.
Grass land requires 20,250 gallons ofwater each week x 40 weeks x24,803,000 acres of grass.
Source: USDA Census
The typical NY farm needs thousands of gallons of watera day for livestock and irrigation.
Flowback is advertised as produced water
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Flowback is advertised as produced water
Liquid waste can look benign, but . . .
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it is not only toxic, its often flammable.
Washington County, PAProduced water pit
W W E h & N D
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Water, Water Everywhere & Not a Drop
The greatest danger in gas drilling is waterpollution caused by spills, leaks, blowouts, andeven methane migration.
Any contamination of ground water and aquifersis a threat to public health, wildlife andagriculture.
Water quality is not protected as drilling activitiesare exempted from the Clean Water Act andthe Safe Water Drinking Act
Can you imagine operating a farm using this
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y g p g gwater replacement system?
This is NOT areplacement for this
Water buffaloes in Spring Lake,
Bradford County, PA
Drinking Water Sources
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g
Most upstate
municipalities drawtheir water fromunderground aquifers,lakes, and streams.
Most rural NYproperties depend onprivate water wells both shallow & deep for all of their personal &
agricultural needs.
Underground aquifers are as vulnerable as open surfaceaquifers. All water sources must be protected.
N Y k W t B i
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New York Water Basins
What if the water becomes unfit to drink?
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The NYC watershed andDelaware River Basin
combined - provides waterfor more than 15,600,000people - the largestunfiltered water source inthe world.
The natural gas industry hasleased hundreds ofthousands of acres withinthe watershed and the riverbasin. That could mean50,000 gas wells in thecombined watershed area.
Water Scarcity Facing 1/3 of US Counties
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y g /3
T i Ch i l A Th t t O W t S l
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Toxic Chemicals: A Threat to Our Water Supply
40,000 gallons of chemicals are used in onewell.
93% of these chemicals have adverse health
effects.
60% are known carcinogens
40% are known endocrine disruptors.
Class of Additive Typical Use(s) System(s) Adversely Affected
(at high exposure levels)Petroleum Distillate Products Corrosion inhibitors Gastro intestinal
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939
3
Kerosene
Naptha
Mineral spirits,
Friction reducers
Solvents
Central nervous
Skin - blistering or peeling
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (BTEX)
Benzene
Toulene
Ethylbenzene
Xylene
also napthalene and benzenederivatives
Nervous system
Liver
Kidneys
Blood forming tissues
Leukemia
Reproduction/ still births
Respiratory system (lung tumors)Glycols
Ethelyne glycol (antifreeze)
Propylene glycol
Crosslinkers
Breakers
Clay and iron controllers
Scale inhibitors
Low inherent toxicity
Kidneys
Reproductive system
Glycol Ethers
Monomethoxyethanol
Monoethoxeyethanol
Corrosion inhibitors
Surfactants
Friction reducers
Male reproductive system
Red blood cell formation
Alcohols
Ethanol
Methanol
(Pages 5-63 and 5-64 dSGEIS)
Foaming agents
Corrosion inhibitors
Surfactants
Iron and scale inhibitors
Central nervous system
Dangers listed by the DEC
Class of Additive Typical Use(s) System Adversely Affected
(at high exposure levels)Amides create polymers Nervous system
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949
4
Amides
Acrylamide
Formamide
create polymers
friction reducers
scale inhibitors
corrosion inhibitors
Nervous system
Cancer
Female reproductive system
Amines
mono-,di-, and tri-ethanolamine
corrosion inhibitors
cross-linkers
friction reducers
iron and clay controllers
liver
kidneys
Organic Acids
formic acid
acetic acid and citric acid
corrosion and scale inhibitors
friction reducers and surfactants
corrosive to skin
Microbiocides prevent bacterial production of sour gas
maintain viscosity of additives
respiratory system
gastrointestinal tract
Kidneys and liver
nervous system
Formaldehyde corrosion inhibitor
scale inhibitor
surfactant
Severe pain, vomiting, coma and death
nose and throat cancer
1,4-dioxane surfactant kidney
liver
cancer
Hydrochloric Acid Cleaning perforations and fractures Corrosive to skin
Controversy
Biodegrade ?
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45 products withincompleteingredients listed
40 compounds with unknowningredientsbecausetheyre mixtures
Some chemicals not submitted to DEC (chapter 5DSGEIS)
DECs dSGEIS (draft SupplementalGeneric Environmental ImpactStatement) says:
And it flows down hill and down river
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Or willFaults and Seismicity in theAppalachin Basin of New York State
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eventually
percolate upthrough theground!.
Experts suggest that,
over time, most of thetoxic undergroundwater will find its way tothe surface throughfissures, rusted pipesand cracked cement,and through theconduits of missing andunplugged water andgas wells.
Appalachin Basin of New York StateSource: Jacobi, R.D., 2002, Tectonophysics, v. 353, p. 75-113.
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Natural Gas DrillingActivities DecreaseAir Quality
Sources of Oil and Gas Air Pollution
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Blowouts
Condensate tanksConstruction activity
Dehydrators
Engines
Flaring
Fugitive emissions
Pits
VehiclesVenting
Water pollution is adefinite possibility,
but air pollution is a
certainty.
Y e t th e E P A s tu d y h a s e x c lu d e d a ir pollution in its current study of gas
drilling.
Of Particular Concern
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Of Particular Concern
Ozone
Fugitive Methane
Hydrogen Sulfide
Volatile Organic Compounds
Noxious Chemicals
Other Hydrocarbons
Ozone (O3)Ozone is three oxygen atoms joinedtogether. Ozone is ready to react with
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Ozone (O3) together. Ozone is ready to react withwhatever it meets. It can cause lungdamage and illness. Ozone can alsocorrode building materials, statues andmonuments, and natural rock featuresin the landscape.
Sublette County, Wyoming is a gas drilling zonewith a population of 2 people per square mile
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with a population of 2 people per square mile
Yet is has an ozone levels equivalent to Los Angeles
Ozone Negatively Impacts Plant Growth and Yields
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g
According to EPA, even atrelatively low levels ofozone exposure, cropscan suffer a 20-40% lossin productivity.
Ozone exposure makesplants less productive
by decreasing theirphotosynthesis and bycausing leaves to die.Root development isinhibited by ozone. As aresult the hydrauliccapacity to provide thetranspiring shoots withwater is reduced.
Plants, such as grapes, soybeans, alfalfa,clover, and grazing grasses suffer decreasingcrop yields from ozone.
Fugitive Methane (CH4)
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From New York Times October 14, 2009
Revkin and Krauss Franklin, Texas
Same Image
Optical Photography Infrared photography
Invisible emissions of dangerous gasses
Condensate tanks
A major greenhouse gas concern
Sources of methane emissions into the
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atmosphere
Blowouts
Also high levels ofhydrogen sulfide
Venting
Flaring
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
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Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
Hydrogen sulfide is most commonly obtainedby its separation from sour gas, which isnatural gas with high content of H2S. It is acolorless, flammable gas that is verypoisonous.
Volatile Organic Compounds
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Volatile Organic Compounds
Benzene
Toluene
Ethylbenzene
Xylenes
Acetone
Carbon Disulfide
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Noxious chemicals
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Noxious chemicals
from diesel driventrucks andcompressors canhave serious health
consequences onpeople, animals andplants. For humansthis includes asthma,stroke, cardiovascular disease andirritable boweldisorders. Aruba Petroleum (Photo: Tim Ruggiero)
Toxic Plumes: Imagine a foggy August morning
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Natural gas sometimes contains a significant amountof ethane, propane, butane, and pentane heavier
hydrocarbons removed prior to use as a consumer fuel aswell as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogensulfide. All of the above with the exception of ethane,nitrogen, and helium are denser than air. All are colorless
and vary greatly in their properties, including toxicity.
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DUST, LIGHT AND NOISE POLLUTION
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DUST, LIGHT AND NOISE POLLUTION
Source: Bobs Blog
Sound wall
Rock DustParticulate cloud near frac mixer
You expect our animals to eat the grass when itsd i h d ? D i f
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covered with dust? Dairy farmer
Bradford County, PAPhoto Sue Heavenrich
Silicosis
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Silicosis
Silicosis makes an individual more susceptible to TB.
Because of their susceptibility, cattle and farmed cervids(deer and elk) are routinely tested for TB.
Silicosis is causedby exposure to
respirablecrystalline silicadust.
Effects include lungcancer,
Bronchitis/ChronicObstructivePulmonary Disorder,Scleroderma andpossible RenalDisease.
Light Pollution and Pollinators
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Research on insects, turtles,
birds, fish, reptiles, and otherwildlife species shows that lightpollution can alter behaviors,foraging areas, and breedingcycles.
Light Pollution and Trees
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Prolonged exposure to artificial
light prevents many trees fromadjusting to seasonal variations.
Compressor
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CompressorStation Noise
Can happy cows live heretoo or only in California?
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Noise affects hatchability rates of
birds and poultry, smallruminant metabolism, andhuman endocrine systems.Studies indicate that it alsoincreases blood pressure and
stress levels in all animals.
Impacts on Livestock
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At least 40% of fracking chemicals are endocrine disruptorsand can cause falling reproductive rates, stillbirths, andbirth defects.
Small spills can have huge effects on livestock, who oftendrink from surface water sources and are attracted to thesalty taste.
There are growing, documented reports of livestock illnessand death from acute toxicity.
Livestock Poisoning from Oil Field Drilling Fluids, Muds and Additives, appeared inthe journal Veterinary & Human Toxicology in 1991. It examined seven instances where oiland gas wells had poisoned and/or killed livestock. In one such case, green liquid was
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A surface spill at .5% dilution can dothis?
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality:Cato Parish - spilled fluid killed 17 cows.
Tioga County PA- May 201028 Cows quarantined after drilling fluid
(heavily laced with strontium) leak.
and gas wells had poisoned and/or killed livestock. In one such case, green liquid wasfound leaking from a tank near a gas well site. The studys authors found 13 dead cows,whose postmortem blood was chocolate-brown in color. Poisoning cases involving
carbon disulfide, turpentine, toluene, xylene, ethylene, and complex solvent mixturesare frequently encountered, the study concluded.
Food Safety?
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Most food is not adequately
inspected for chemicalcontamination.
There is no system in placeto test affected crops, meat,
or dairy, even whenexposure by frackingchemicals is suspected.
The National Residue
Program, which monitorsknown chemical residues, ismissing key heavy metals &chemicals.
Since key information ismissing on what chemicals
are used in gas production,its impossible to monitortheir presence in the food
chain.
A Fukushima Analogy?
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Japanese Imports Banned Due to Radiation Concerns
We know radiation affects agriculture and
fisheries, and travels through the foodchain.
With radiation you must worry about your totaldose over a lifetime, wherever it may come from.
We dont knowthe implicationsfrom long termlow levelradiation
exposure to us,our livestock orour foodsources.
Radioactive feral hogs in Europe Fish warnings on our rivers
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Will our cattle be next?
What are the cumulative impacts onagriculture plants and animals?
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agriculture, plants, and animals?
Where are the studies?
What will happen to our food? What
will happen to our farms?
Impacts to New York Agriculture
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NY ranks in the top 5 states for production of dairy, cherries, apples, cabbage,potatoes, onions and maple syrup.
The counties covering the Marcellus Shale formation include an agriculturalregion called the plateau country which is known for its production of dairy,beef, vegetables, wine, potatoes, and many other foods.
New York has numerous award-winning vineyards and breweries.
The number of NOFA-NY certified organic farms has increased steadily in the lastdecade with a concentration of organic farms in the Shale Gas region.
Most upstate farms are small, compared to farms in other regions, yet are themost threatened from HVHHF.
Good For The Local Economy?
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Other Impacts
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Property values Insurance rates
Heavy traffic congestion (between 5850 and 8905truck trips per pad)
State forests and outdoor recreation
Health impacts Security and safety
Social services and housing
12 Unintended Consequences
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q
Shortages of sawdust and bedding material forfarm use.
Shortages of gravel, concrete and other suppliesfor agricultural use.
Difficulties in finding open repair shops or on-callmechanics for agricultural equipment as manytechnicians are working for or catering to the gascompanies first.
Difficulties in finding rendering options fordeceased animals. Who wants to take a potentiallycontaminated animal?
Unintended Consequences Continued
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Shortages of milk truck drivers are raisingthe cost paid by farmers to haul milk to themarket.
Road congestion & deterioration is causingdifficulties for farm vehicles.
In addition to being drilled, some farms arebeing mined for gravel. On other farms
water is being hauled away or pumped off.
Unintended Consequences Continued
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Bat and bird habitat is being destroyedresulting in higher insect populations. Suchpests may lead to livestock stress, disease
and even death. Coyote populations are likely to increase
threatening sheep, goat, deer and young
calves.
Unintended Consequences Continued
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Taxpayer supported farmland protection programsmay allow for drilling. Land trusts and open spaceprojects wishing to preserve and promoteagriculture may not be able to prohibit industrialized
drilling. Consumers may become wary of agricultural
products from frackland.
Farmers may be left liable for contamination or
pollution as a result of their leases. Others may beheld financially responsible under a mechanicslien.
First the Boom
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1311
31
Then the bustD illi d d
Tim and Christine RuggieroDenton, Texas
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Unknown gasbubbles
Drilling mud spread onproperty.
Condensate tanks.
Original 2010 assessment:$257,330. Current 2011Assessment: $75,240.
Waste fluid pond
OR THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER!
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Recent newspaper headlinesCourt allows condemnation of 9,100 acres in Kansas
(issue: underground gas storage site leak)
"Cattle vs. Conoco: How Gas Fields Are Crowding OutNew Mexico Ranchers (issue: living conditionsand affected livestock)
Eminent Domain Power Granted to Private PipelineCompanies
How Did NY Get Sold Down The River?
A P f t St
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A Perfect Storm
New technology +lax regulations = profits
Lack of oversight -Federal, state, and local
Nearby energy markets
Stealth leasing
Ignorance by design
Appalachia
Milk pricing
Why are we talking about agriculture withouttalking about fracking?
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talking about fracking?
Cuomo supports NYS Council on Food PolicyQuinn, Stringer and other potential 2013 candidates explore food policy as a
recipe for success
NYSAC Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Farming in New York State
Agriculture is Economic Development
New Food System Principles Emphasize Health
Benefits
ANALYZING REGIONAL FOODSHEDS AND LOCAL FOOD: THE ROLE
OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND USE LAW AND POLICY
Why are we talking about drilling impactswithout talking about agriculture?
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Farming in the Northeast is a constant struggle.
Most farm families need off-farm jobs to make ends meet & pay for health insurance.
Gas bonuses & royalties can feel like winning the lottery.
Farming involves a lot of hoping for the best and the safety of gas drilling is no exception.
Buyers are increasingly wary of leased & developed land and mortgages can be hard to secure.
In Pennsylvania, its estimated that 25% of farmers with gas wells have abandoned farming.
Will farmers be stuck with useless farmland?
without talking about agriculture?
THE TRADE OFF
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Government is forcing farmers into a choice manydon't want to make. What is needed is anagricultural policy that helps farmers receive a fairprice for their products. An energy policy thatprovides some cash at the expense of the health of
the farm families, the safety and marketability of thefood they produce, and the profitability of theirfarms is no substitute for good farm policy. We mustdo better than to put our water, air and soil, ourfood supply, the health of individuals and
communities and the well-being of futuregenerations at risk.
Ask Your Doctor If Gas DrillingIs Right For You!
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g WARNING: gas drilling near your home may put you at risk for possible exposure to
carcinogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disruptors by inhalation, ingestion, and absorption;elevated ground level ozone and air pollution in gas production areas due to toxic fumes anddiesel exhaust; disease caused by chemicals, hydrocarbons, radium, and heavy metals in yourdrinking water; adrenal gland dysfunction from the low frequency noise of compressorstations; and potential for explosion due to methane accumulation in your home.
KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, THE ELDERLY AND PETS. Symptoms can
include, but are not limited to, headaches, nose bleeds, eye and skin damage, gastrointestinalproblems, respiratory problems, dizziness, and confusion.
Physicians report that methane, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, Hexane, 2 Methylpentane, and 3-Methylpentane have been detected in their patients blood.
Related serious side effects in gas extraction, processing, and production areas can beexpected, including permanent neurological damage, cancer, brain damage, and endocrinesystem disruption.
For a comprehensive review of Public Health EffectsTEDX The Endocrine Disruption Exchange
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY ???Ommegang believes that opposing development of hydrofracking is critical to the interests of our
community, our people and our business. We are proud of our accomplishment in building a thriving,
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community, our people and our business. We are proud of our accomplishment in building a thriving,sustainable and environmentally conscious business in upstate New York. We are deeply concerned at thethreat posed by development of drilling in the region and the risk to the purity of the water on which wedepend, and which is a key reason we are located here. We are a company that enjoys a national
reputation for super-premium quality beers produced in upstate New York and we hope that the stateand local regulators attach value to what we do for the region in terms of employment and ourrepresentation of upstate New York in restaurants and grocery stores across the nation. We do not wantour business future, our employees futures and our communities futures damaged or destroyed bywater pollution, or compromised by the industrialization associated with hydrofracking for shale gas.
-- Simon Thorpe, President/CEO of Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York
I want to alert you to a less obvious effect that hydrofracking will have on us and on the NYS farms whoseproducts we make a great effort to buy. We are very responsive to the needs of our shoppers. If
hydrofracking is allowed to go forward our shoppers are certain to be asking us if the fruits, vegetables,dairy products, eggs and meats from New York State are produced in areas where hydrofracking is takingplace. It will not take many inquiries for us to start researching alternatives to NYS products.
-- Joe Holtz, General Manager of Park Slope Food Coop Inc, Brooklyn, New York
At the Co-op, we work hard to support our Western New York farms. Our business depends on theirsurvival. But if our customers tell us to source clean natural foods from non-hydrofracking regions, weand other grocers will shift our purchasing dollars elsewhere. Hydrofracking may create a few jobs in the
energy industry, but it will put at risk our Co-op and all of local partners we do business with.-- Tim Bartlett, General Manager of Lexington Co-operative Market, Buffalo, New York
What Not To Do
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If you are now planning to avoid food grown ingas drilling areas who could blame you?
But what will that accomplish?
Youll be driving another nail into thesustainability of American agriculture.
Where will your food come fromwhen all the farms are gone?
What You Can Do
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Get involved on a local, regional & national level.Support local grassroots organizations. If you donthave time to volunteer then consider making afinancial contribution.
Get to know your local farmer and his/her needs.Support sustainable farming practices and policies.Demand Farm Bill reforms.
Contact your local representatives. Demandaccountability. Push local zoning, and otherprotective municipal laws. Show up at meetings. Callstate and federal representatives often.
Dont Take Our Word For It
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Sources quoted, including scientific studies, can befound at:
https://acrobat.com/app.html#d=cx0ZyEPSWPh9WxIjwDJbTA
Many thanks to those who shared their photos, experience,
knowledge, professional talents and other resources; especiallythe folks at www.Marcellus-Shale.US.
Contact Us
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Martha [email protected]
Christine and Bob Applegate