Le Lézard
Classified in: Oil industry
Subjects: NPT, PSF, AVO

New Report Finds Marcellus Shale Development Unrelated to Pa. Mortality Rates


WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., Dec. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mortality rates in the six Pennsylvania counties with the most Marcellus Shale development have declined or remained stable since shale production began in the region, according to a new Energy In Depth-commissioned report. The findings directly refute accusations from anti-energy groups that the fracking boom is a threat to public health.

Energy In Depth - Mortality rates in the six Pennsylvania counties with the most Marcellus Shale development have declined or remained stable since shale production began in the region, according to a new Energy In Depth-commissioned report. The findings directly refute accusations from anti-energy groups that the fracking boom is a threat to public health.

Key findings include:

The report analyzed Pennsylvania Department of Health data for the state as a whole and the counties of Bradford, Greene, Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Washington from 2000 to 2014. The report explains the significance of using the state's data, noting,

"Pennsylvania has a comprehensive database and a decades-long history of reporting this data, providing the reviewer a consistent, reliable and sanctioned independent database to draw from for this study. Most importantly, the source of the data is the Pennsylvania State Health Department, as part of the National Center for Disease Control reporting system, and therefore is not data generated by the researcher. This protects the conclusion from bias and ensures that the study can be replicated when peer-reviewed."

According to the report, these counties were chosen because of the level of Marcellus activity they have seen ? more than 900 wells in each ? since 2004, when the first Marcellus shale well was developed in Washington County.

Study author Sue Mickley explains,

"In all six counties that had the highest development activity in Pennsylvania, the death rates declined or remained stable despite a significant increase in the elderly population. This indicates that health and longevity did not decline as some have said would happen, and in fact, longevity increased as the average household income and employment in these counties improved. None of the categories saw a negative impact on health from natural gas resource development."

The Marcellus Shale industry has been operating in Pennsylvania for more than a decade now ? an ample amount of time for health trends, both positive and negative, to show in a community. Mickley explained that to EID, stating,

"It has been common knowledge in the field of public health that the economic health of a community influences the status of its citizens."

While the report did not specifically evaluate whether the shale industry has been responsible for the decline in mortality rates, Marcellus development has increased tax revenues, saved consumers money, and spurred economic development in these counties and the state as a whole.

As EID Executive Vice President Jeff Eshelman said,

"The oil and gas industry has been operating in the Marcellus for a decade now, turning Pennsylvania into the second largest natural gas producing state in the country. This report confirms what we have been saying for years: The shale industry has an overwhelmingly positive impact in the communities in which it operates. The 'Keep It In the Ground' movement has tried to destroy jobs and economic growth in parts of the Commonwealth that desperately need both, arguing that oil and natural gas development is a threat to public health. Everyone should welcome the release of this report, which confirms those anti-energy claims are without merit."

The new report adds to the growing body of research that shale development is protective of public health, and has led to reductions in local air pollution.

The full report is available here.

 

SOURCE Energy In Depth


These press releases may also interest you

at 09:42
BlueNord ASA ("BlueNord" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Tyra Redevelopment Project ("Tyra" or "Tyra II") continues to progress according to plan with the valves at the Nybro Gas Treatment Plant expected to open today and first gas...

at 09:28
IDTechEx Research, a trusted provider of independent market intelligence, announces the availability of a new report, "Thermal Energy Storage 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets, and Forecasts"....

at 09:18
Energea, a pioneering renewable energy investment platform, announces the successful commissioning of the Divinópolis II solar power plant. Located at the "Fazenda Córrego Sujo" in Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, this 3.13 MW (DC) facility is Energea's...

at 09:00
EnergySage, the leading marketplace for consumers to shop, compare, and save on clean home energy solutions, announced today the launch of its first-ever Installer of the Year awards....

at 09:00
OLI Systems proudly announces a groundbreaking development in its commitment to driving innovation in critical materials research. Through a new contract with the Critical Materials Innovation Hub (CMI), OLI is poised to enhance its industry-leading...

at 08:46
Azure Power Global Limited (the 'Company' or 'Azure'), an independent sustainable energy solutions provider and renewable power producer in India, today announced that it has filed its annual report on form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31,...



News published on and distributed by: