Natural gas leak at underground storage site in Cambria County stopped after 11 days Reid FrazierNovember 17, 2022 While the company needs to determine the actual amount of gas that leaked, it estimates that it could be 100 million cubic feet/day. EnergyPollution
Shell’s ethane cracker, a mammoth plastics plant near Pittsburgh, begins operations Reid FrazierNovember 15, 2022 The $6 billion ethane cracker will take ethane from natural gas from fracking in the region to make 1.6 million metric tons of plastic/year. EnergyThe Coming Chemical Boom
Climate change prompts Pa. farmers to adapt crops and businesses Rachel McDevittNovember 11, 2022 As the climate changes and brings more risks to traditional farming, farmers are looking for ways to make sure their crops survive. Climate ChangeFood and Agriculture
EPA awards more than $4 million for new air monitoring in Pa. environmental justice areas Reid FrazierNovember 4, 2022 The grants will pay for 11 projects around Pennsylvania, totaling $4.27 million, to monitor around communities overburdened by air pollution. News
In Pa. Senate race, Fetterman and Oz change views on fracking, trying to match voters Reid FrazierOctober 28, 2022 They were once both against it. Now they're both for it. But do voters care? Climate ChangeEnergyPolitics
Inversions trap pollution in Allegheny County this fall, despite new rule Reid FrazierOctober 21, 2022 Despite a new rule, hydrogen sulfide and soot levels surged in Allegheny County during a weather inversion this month. HealthPollution
DEP fines Shell $670K for erosion, spills during Falcon pipeline construction Reid FrazierOctober 13, 2022 Violations occurred numerous times along the Falcon pipeline that will feed ethane to Shell's Beaver County ethane cracker. EnergyPollutionWater
Pa. moves natural gas well emissions rule forward, seeks to beat federal deadline Rachel McDevittOctober 12, 2022 The rule covers conventional oil and gas sites that have already been built or drilled. Reducing VOC emissions is expected to also lower leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Climate ChangeEnergyPollution
An ethane cracker in western Pa. will soon start up. We answered your questions about it Reid FrazierOctober 6, 2022 You asked us questions about Shell's ethane cracker in Beaver County. We got answers about jobs, taxes, royalties, and of course, air pollution. EconomyEnergyHealthPollutionThe Coming Chemical BoomYour Environment Update
Public gets briefed on fracking health studies, despite no-show from Pitt, DOH Reid FrazierOctober 5, 2022 Residents came to a forum in Washington County on state-funded studies on fracking’s impact on public health, even though researchers had pulled out. EnergyHealth
