State officials are criticizing an anticipated EPA proposal that would roll back Obama-era mileage standards designed to combat climate-changing emissions.
The Environmental Justice designation is aimed at protecting poor and minority communities that often bear the brunt of pollution. But the update leaves out oil and gas drilling operations.
Families in Butler County sued the fracking company when their well water had a strong smell and a bad taste after drilling began. Their water is still bad.
The health department says pollution at the plant has gotten worse since, leading to dozens of violations. The agency also said U.S. Steel employees tried to mask air violations.
Permits for new and modified natural gas wells and compressor stations will require more leak detection for methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. DEP can also now penalize those companies that don't comply.
Spreading oil and gas wastewater has been a cheap way for municipalities to suppress dust on unpaved roads in parts of Pennsylvania for years. But the waste can contain high levels of radioactive materials and other pollutants that are bad for water quality and human health.
Shell’s Falcon Pipeline would run through Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, transporting the ethane necessary to fuel the cracker plant its building in Western, PA. The cracker creates ethylene, which is used in manufacturing plastics.
