HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania, a state known for its rich history and beautiful landscapes, finds itself grappling with an age-old nemesis – hazardous waste. On Tuesday, in a press conference held at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, State Sen. Katie Muth, in conjunction with Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, environmental advocacy groups and several impacted residents, called for urgent action against the perils of hazardous waste disposal, specifically within the oil and gas industry.
The conference largely revolved around the shared concerns of environmental advocates regarding the detrimental impacts to public health from hazardous waste exposure. The advocacy united under a common demand – the need to rectify the existing loopholes surrounding hazardous waste regulation and classification in Pennsylvania. The conference also spotlighted the findings of renowned author Justin Nobel’s recent book, “Petroleum-238: Big Oil’s Dangerous Secret and the Grassroots Fight to Stop It.”
Senator Muth stressed upon the detrimental effects of this hazardous waste on humans and the environment. In reaction to the existing loopholes in regulation, she called for immediate action by governmental bodies to reclassify what is aptly, hazardous waste. She reiterated, “One of the foundational responsibilities of government at all levels is to protect people from harm. Failure to take immediate action to end the decades of human suffering is simply unacceptable.”
To combat this issue head-on, Senator Muth put forth two bills, Senate Bill 26 and Senate Bill 28. If passed, these bills would add crucial language to Pennsylvania’s Solid Waste Management Act that would legally classify oil and gas waste as hazardous, thereby imposing stricter norms on companies before disposing the waste.
Nobel’s book, “Petroleum-238,” uncovers the results of his seven-year probe into the environmental loopholes manipulated by the U.S. oil and gas industry, leading to a looming public health crisis. Speaking at the conference, Justin revealed the unsettling working conditions of oilfield waste treatment facilities. He described how these facilities, crucial to the oil and gas pipeline system, often resort to hiring workers recently released from prison, without providing them necessary knowledge or protection against harmful exposure.
In his account, Sean Guthrie, a former worker at the Fairmont Brine facility, recounted his own experience with the industry’s negligence. He expressed regret about his ignorance towards the dangers he was exposed to and mourned the loss of his co-workers due to cancer. Now suffering from health issues himself, he pleaded for accountability.
Echoing the sentiments of the workers, Megan McDonough, Pennsylvania State Director, Food & Water Watch, pointed out, “For too long, families and workers have been cast aside and overlooked by the very industry that once promised prosperity. The time to prioritize the well-being of our communities over profit margins is long overdue.”
Nobel’s book reveals another compelling evidence – a set of 50-year-old reports condemning the disposal of waste via underground injection as scientifically-unfounded, destined to fail, and ultimately lead to contamination. The book underlines cases endorsed by current government reports illuminating how injection wells leak fracking wastewater back to the surface at certain locations across the country.
Dr. Ken Hilsbos, a Family Physician and a former EPA contractor, shed light on the risks of radiation and toxic chemicals. He mentioned one such case – the Fairmont Brine Processing plant, notorious for its unsecured and concentrated radioactive waste.
While Pennsylvania grapples with this deep-seated issue, the state’s leaders seem poised for change. The press conference was a testament to their resolve – to protect their people and the environment from the hazardous implications of oil and gas waste disposal. As the state makes strides toward more stringent waste management practices, they set an example for other states to follow, creating a ripple effect of change across the nation.
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