WEST CHESTER - 17 de abril de 2024 - La senadora estatal Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), presidenta del Comité de Política Demócrata del Senado de Pensilvania, y la senadora Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), presidenta de la minoría del Comité de Recursos Ambientales y Energía del Senado, coorganizaron hoy una audiencia pública virtual sobre los impactos ambientales y de salud pública asociados con la propagación de aguas residuales de petróleo y gas en las carreteras de Pensilvania. 

El Departamento de Protección Ambiental de Pensilvania declaró una moratoria sobre la pulverización de agua producida de pozos convencionales en las carreteras de Pensilvania en 2018. Sin embargo, a pesar de esa moratoria, los informes citados en la audiencia de hoy indican que las empresas vertieron más de 3,5 millones de galones de aguas residuales de perforación tóxicas y radiactivas en las carreteras de Pensilvania desde 2018.

“The looting and polluting of Pennsylvania really needs to stop – we need government leaders to take the issues of environmental protection and public health seriously and to stop allowing industry profits to drive policy decisions in Harrisburg,” Muth said. “As we heard today, the spreading of toxic, radioactive oil and gas wastewater has no benefit and only causes harm to our roadways, our environment, and Pennsylvania residents.”

The current moratorium on road spreading contains a dangerous loophole that an outright ban would close – companies are allowed to make a coproduct self-determination that allows well owners/operators to self-determine the brine as a coproduct that is safe and has a beneficial use on the roadways. Senator Muth has introduced two bills that would effectively ban road spreading of oil and gas waste by closing the state’s hazardous waste loopholes. Senate Bill 26 and Senate Bill 28 would repeal the language under Title 58 that exempts the oil and gas industry from complying with the provisions of this law and include drilling waste in the Solid Waste Management Act’s definition of “hazardous waste.”

“Wastewater from oil and gas wells should not be dumped on roadways in Pennsylvania. Spreading chemical contaminants, heavy metals, and radioactive material is a threat to environmental health and public health. It has no benefit except to help drillers dispose of dangerous and toxic byproducts,” Comitta said. “Thank you to my friend and legislative colleague, Senator Katie Muth, for calling this hearing and to all those who participated.”

Participants in the hearing included David Hess, former DEP secretary and editor of PA Environmental Digest; Karen Feridun, co-founder, Better Path Coalition; Dr. William Burgos, Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Penn State University; and Siri Lawson, a Warren County resident, submitted a statement that was read at the hearing.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection declined an invitation to participate in the hearing but did submit written testimony that is available at this link.

For more information on this policy hearing and to access all submitted testimony and a full recording of today’s hearing, visit www.SenatorMuth.com/policy.

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Testimonio

Panel 1: Eficacia y seguridad del esparcimiento por carretera de aguas residuales de petróleo y gas

• William Burgos - Catedrático de Ingeniería Medioambiental, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Medioambiental, Universidad Estatal de Pensilvania, University Park

Mesa redonda 2: Defensores y personas afectadas

• David Hess - Secretario del Departamento de Protección Medioambiental de Pensilvania 2001-2003
• Karen Feridun - Cofundadora, Better Path Coalition
• Siri Lawson - Residente en el condado de Warren

Testimonio adicional

• Departamento de Protección del Medio Ambiente de Pensilvania