Scope of the Public Health Review
Scope of the Public Health Review
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| Scope of the Public Health Review |
adequate basis to understand the likelihood and magnitude of risks for adverse public
health impacts from HVHF activities in New York State. DOH reviewed how HVHF
activities could result in human exposure to: (i) contaminants in air or water; (ii) naturally
occurring radiological materials that result from HVHF activities; and (iii) the effects of HVHF operations such as truck traffic, noise, and social changes on communities. DOH
also reviewed whether those exposures may result in adverse public health outcomes.
Public Health Review Process
The initial component of the Public Health Review focused on understanding how public
health concerns were addressed in the draft SGEIS. Three nationally recognized
experts participated as consultants to the initial phase of the review process. The expert
consultants reviewed elements of the draft SGEIS and documentation developed by
DOH, and provided extensive input through multiple rounds of communication.
As a result of this input, as well as broader consideration, it became clear that DOH’s
Public Health Review needed to extend beyond this initial assessment to consider,
more broadly, the current state of science regarding HVHF and public health risks. This
required an evaluation of the emerging scientific information on environmental public
health and community health effects. This also required an analysis of whether such
information was sufficient to determine the extent of potential public health impact of
HVHF activities in NYS and whether existing mitigation measures implemented in other
states are effectively reducing the risk for adverse public health impacts.
In addition to evaluating published scientific literature, former Commissioner Shah,
Acting Commissioner Zucker, and DOH staff consulted with state public health and
environmental authorities to understand their experience with HVHF. Former
Commissioner Shah, Acting Commissioner Zucker, and DOH staff also engaged in a
number of discussions and meetings with researchers from academic institutions and
government agencies to learn more about planned and ongoing studies and
assessments of the public health implications of HVHF. In total, more than 20 DOH
senior Research Scientists, Public Health Specialists, and Radiological Health
Specialists spent approximately 4500 hours on this Review.
Major Findings
Summarized below are some of the environmental impacts and health outcomes
potentially associated with HVHF activities:
• Air impacts that could affect respiratory health due to increased levels of
particulate matter, diesel exhaust, or volatile organic chemicals.
• Climate change impacts due to methane and other volatile organic chemical
releases to the atmosphere.
• Drinking water impacts from underground migration of methane and/or fracking
chemicals associated with faulty well construction.
• Surface spills potentially resulting in soil and water contamination.
• Surface-water contamination resulting from inadequate wastewater treatment.
• Earthquakes induced during fracturing.
• Community impacts associated with boom-town economic effects such as
increased vehicle traffic, road damage, noise, odor complaints, increased
demand for housing and medical care, and stress.
Additionally, an evaluation of the studies reveals critical information gaps. These need
to be filled to more fully understand the connections between risk factors, such as air
and water pollution, and public health outcomes among populations living in proximity to
HVHF shale gas operations (Penning, 2014; Shonkoff, 2014; Werner, 2015).
Some of the most significant environmental and health-outcome studies are briefly
summarized here.
Air Impacts
Studies provide evidence of uncontrolled methane leakage, emissions of other volatile
organic chemicals, and particulate matter from well pads and natural-gas infrastructure.
State authorities in both Texas and Pennsylvania have documented methane leakage
from natural gas infrastructure by the use of infrared cameras. A recent West Virginia
study also determined that heavy vehicle traffic and trucks idling at well pads were the
likely sources of intermittently high dust and benzene concentrations, sometimes
observed at distances of at least 625 feet from the center of the well pad (McCawley,
2012, 2013; WVDEP, 2013). These emissions have the potential to contribute to
community odor problems, respiratory health impacts such as asthma exacerbations,
and longer-term climate change impacts from methane accumulation in the atmosphere
(Allen, 2013; Bunch, 2014; CDPHE, 2010; Macey, 2014; Miller, 2013; Petron, 2012;
Weisel, 2010).
Water-quality Impacts
Studies have found evidence for underground migration of methane associated with
faulty well construction (Darrah, 2014; US EPA, 2011). For example, a recent study
identified groundwater contamination clusters that the authors determined were due to
gas leakage from intermediate-depth strata through failures of annulus cement, faulty
production casings, and underground gas well failure (Darrah, 2014). Shallow methanemigration
has the potential to impact private drinking water wells, creating safety
concerns due to explosions.
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