Two decades of fracking in Pennsylvania have left unresolved issues regarding the state’s management of radioactive waste.
As the natural gas industry continues to flourish in Pennsylvania, so do concerns regarding the management of its radioactive byproducts. In 2015, John Quigley, who served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), became alarmed as reports indicated that trucks transporting oil and gas waste were frequently triggering radioactivity alarms at landfills across the state. This revelation highlighted a significant oversight in the state’s approach to waste regulation, raising questions about public health and the safety of personnel involved in transporting and handling this waste.
The volume of waste generated by the state’s booming fracking operations has been substantial, with approximately 72% of produced solid waste being disposed of in landfills within Pennsylvania. An average of one truck laden with this waste triggers a radioactivity alarm each day. The radioactive elements—such as radium, uranium, and thorium—naturally present in the earth, surface during drilling, and experts have expressed long-standing concerns about their potential health risks.
Recent research from the University of Pittsburgh has revealed alarming findings: the wastewater from fracking in the Marcellus Shale formation is far more radioactive than previously estimated. Evidence suggests that radioactive sediment is pervasive downstream from some landfills and wastewater treatment facilities, prompting renewed scrutiny of how the state manages this hazardous waste.
Despite the alarming statistics, regulation has not significantly evolved over the past decade. In 2023 alone, radioactivity alarms went off more than 550 times at Pennsylvania landfills linked to oil and gas waste, with most of this waste being accepted on-site. The DEP has implemented minimal changes in safety protocols, although some new measures were introduced in 2022 to mandate radiation protection action plans for waste handling.
The complexities of waste regulation are further compounded by the state’s disorganized tracking system, which created challenges in accurately monitoring waste radioactivity. A study by the DEP last updated in 2016 indicated minimal exposure risk from this waste; however, former officials contend that more recent data necessitates a reevaluation of both public safety policies and operational practices.
Critics, including environmental advocates and academic researchers, are calling for a comprehensive examination of the radioactivity in oil and gas waste, pointing out that existing regulations do not address the emerging risks adequately. As cumulative evidence mounts, there is an urgent need for revised standards and enhanced oversight to ensure that both workers and community members are safeguarded against potential environmental and health hazards.
The Marcellus Shale Coalition asserts that the oil and gas waste in Pennsylvania is well-managed and poses minimal risk. However, experts argue that a holistic approach is required, focusing on continuous monitoring and regulatory compliance to protect public health and the environment. As the discourse surrounding fracking intensifies, stakeholders across Pennsylvania find themselves at a critical crossroads, tasked with balancing economic growth from natural gas production with the pressing need for environmental safety and public health protection.
