PENNSYLVANIA — State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) has raised serious concerns about the potential dangers posed to workers handling fracking’s radioactive waste, and fresh evidence of pollution entering Pennsylvania’s waterways. The alarm was sounded during a press conference held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building.
The gathering drew attention to the experiences of Eric Steppe and Quinn Aughenbaugh, former employees of a Eureka Resources facility in Williamsport. Their stories, along with those of several other workers, were detailed in a report released by the Public Herald.
“Pennsylvanians are exposed daily to potentially toxic and radioactive waste produced by the oil and gas industry,” said Muth. “Our government continues to permit these industries to further contaminate our waterways, air, soil, and endanger our families.”
Muth praised the workers’ bravery in speaking out about the dangerous conditions they were exposed to, including an unsafe work environment, exposure to radium that left several workers ill, inhalation of methanol byproducts and other toxic gases, and constant exposure to poorly maintained highly pressurized vessels containing hot gases and caustics.
The workers indicated that the facility’s conditions have progressively deteriorated, and their raised safety concerns have been left unaddressed. At the press conference, Steppe read a letter sent by the workers to Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner detailing the hazardous working conditions.
Dr. Barbara W Brandom, of the Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania and Physicians for Social Responsibility, also contributed a written statement of support for the workers.
Several legislators and advocates participated in the press conference, including state Rep. Christopher Rabb (D-Philadelphia); state Rep. Danielle Friel-Otten (D-Chester); Alison Steele, Executive Director of the Environmental Health Project; and Senators Wayne Fontana and Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny).
Muth concluded, “Regardless of how you feel about fracking or chemical manufacturing or any kind of fossil fuel energy extraction, we must agree that the harm to public and workers has to stop. Government regulators cannot continue to pretend this harm doesn’t exist. The harm from the fossil fuel industry is well-documented, and failure to face these truths is a failure of government.”
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