64 Groups From Across U.S. Demand Federal Limits on Air Pollution From Fracking Wells

[peoli]

Source: EcoWatch

Today, a robust coalition of 64 local, state and national groups filed a petition calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately set pollution limits on oil and gas operations in populous centers around the U.S., according to a joint press release.

The petition urges the EPA to exercise its authority under the Clean Air Act and require oil and gas companies to limit toxic air pollution from wells in an effort to protect public health.

“More than 150 million Americans now live near oil and gas wells or above shale areas where companies are looking to drill or engage in hydraulic fracturing, and EPA needs to set standards that restrict the hazardous air pollutants they put into the air,” said Earthjustice attorney Emma Cheuse, who filed the petition on behalf of the groups. “Oil and gas wells release chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, and respiratory disease, and EPA should protect our communities, especially our children, from exposure to these hazards.”

With fracking and other extraction methods encroaching onto urban, suburban and other populated areas, the groups say it is vitally important for the EPA to regulate the energy sector’s hazardous air pollution. The petition states that at least 100,000 tons per year of dangerous air pollution from oil and gas well sites—such as benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, methanol, naphthalene and more—are currently being released freely into the air. These pollutants have been linked to respiratory and neurological problems, birth defects and cancer.

Read more: http://ecowatch.com/2014/05/13/groups-demand-air-pollution-regulation-fracking-wells/

[Doctor_J]

1. demand???

[RoccoR5955]

2. They can demand all they want.

I demand that they make freakin' fracking illegal.
I demand that Planet Earth, have the same rights as any individual.
I demand that our ecosystem get the same protection as any individual.
I demand an end to subsidies for corporations that are out to kill the planet, in the name of profit.

I can demand too!

[peoli]

3. Why belittle their efforts?

I think it is incredibly important for environmental groups to organize their efforts to be more effective. Every action is important in the quest for change.

[Strelnikov_]

4. I agree. I don't get it either.

Not the DU I remember.

[2pooped2pop]

5. I don't think it was so much belittling their efforts

as it was; we've seen this shit before, and what will happen will either be a strongly worded letter or a bullshit bill meant to make people think something is being done, while it is being written by the very industry being complained about.

[calguy]

6. One big problem......

Back in the early days of the Bushitter era, Dick(head) Cheney's secret energy plan gave the companies engaging in fracking were given immunity from clean air and water regulations. Until that gets changed if it can the oil companies are free to pollute all they want with no respect for any regulations.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. POISON