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Latest Articles

Worth Protecting: A photo album by Better Path Coalition and FracTracker Alliance
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Explore an album of photos shared by Pennsylvania residents of the treasured communities, animals, plants, and ecosystems that they feel are worth protecting from the impacts of the climate crisis.

The Truth About Blue Hydrogen: Green Fuel or Greenwash?
Blue hydrogen is marketed as a clean and sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, but is blue hydrogen really as environmentally friendly as it claims to be?

2022 Pipeline Incidents Update: Is Pipeline Safety Achievable?
This analysis provides a top-level summary of pipeline incidents reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and examines whether or not safe oversight of the industry is possible.

Testimony On EPA’s Proposed Methane Pollution Standards for the Oil and Gas Industry
FracTracker Alliance supports strong federal methane rules and urges further improvements that are needed to curb dangerous methane emissions.

Assessment of Rework Permits on Oil Production from Operational Wells Within the 3,200-Foot Public Health Protection Zone
This analysis shows that the policy proposed in SB 1137 of denying rework permits within the health protection zones is a commonsense public health intervention that would have minimal effects on production within the protection zone.

Environmental Health Fellowship Opening – Summer 2023
This paid, remote fellowship will provide a graduate student with the opportunity to deepen their academic understanding of environmental issues affecting the heavily-fracked region of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

CalGEM Permit Review Q4 2022: Oil Permit Approvals Show Steep Rise Within Protective Buffer Zones
During the fourth quarter of 2022, California regulator CalGEM issued oil and gas operators 222 new drilling permits, an increase of over 750% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. Of those, nearly half (100; 47%) were for wells located within the 3,200’ public health setback zone.

Book Review Part II: ‘Public Responses to Fossil Fuel Export: Exporting Energy and Emissions in a Time of Transition’
In second installment of this book review, Ted Auch, PhD, reviews chapters 4-8 of Public Responses to Fossil Fuel Export. Published in January 2022, this work explores the social dimensions of the global fossil fuel export system, with a focus on public perceptions and responses to new infrastructures.

Book Review Part I: ‘Public Responses to Fossil Fuel Export: Exporting Energy and Emissions in a Time of Transition’
In this book review, Ted Auch, PhD, reviews the first three chapters of Public Responses to Fossil Fuel Export. Published in January 2022, this work explores the social dimensions of the global fossil fuel export system, with a focus on public perceptions and responses to new infrastructures.

Proof-of-Work Cryptocurrency Mining: Environmental BOMB, Not Balm, for the Planet
Since late 2021, FracTracker has been collecting information on cryptomining operations around the United States, and has partnered with Global Energy Monitor to further research, document, and map many more of these cryptocurrency mining operations.

A Contentious Landscape of Pipeline Build-outs in the Eastern US
In this article, we’ll feature four contentious pipeline build-outs in the Eastern United States, show ways in which those pipelines impact natural and human communities, and provide examples of how environmental advocates have challenged these projects, with varying degrees of success.

Major Gas Leak Reveals Risks of Aging Gas Storage Wells in Pennsylvania
Following an enormous gas leak in Jackson Township, Cambria County Pennsylvania, we mapped oil and gas storage wells and fields throughout the state and found that the majority of Pennsylvania’s storage wells were drilled prior to 1979, making them most vulnerable to well failures.

Coursing Through Gasland: A Digital Atlas Exploring Natural Gas Development in the Towanda Creek Watershed
This digital atlas exploring natural gas development in the Towanda Creek watershed is the fourth in a series of FracTracker Alliance watershed impact analyses in the Susquehanna River Basin.

Falcon Pipeline Online, Begins Operations Following Violations of Clean Streams Law
The Shell ethane cracker in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Falcon Pipeline begin operations following civil penalties from Pennsylvania regulators for violations of the Clean Streams Law.

FracTracker Receives Two Federal Grants to Support Community Air Monitoring Initiatives in the Ohio River Valley
We are pleased to announce that FracTracker Alliance has been selected for two EPA grants totaling $925,302 to support community air monitoring initiatives in the Ohio River Valley.

Fracking and the Pennsylvania Midterm Election
Fracking is one of many issues on our minds as voters cast their ballots for the Pennsylvania midterm election. Read more about what's at stake in November 2022.

Synopsis: Risks to the Greater Columbus Water Supply from Oil and Gas Production
A white paper by Columbus Community Rights Coalition (CCRC) will inform resident stakeholders of risks to the water associated with oil & gas production activities occurring within their watershed region of Columbus, Ohio.

Now Accepting Nominations for 2022 Community Sentinel Awards
FracTracker Alliance is accepting nominations for the 2022 Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship until October 28, 2022.

Pitt School Of Public Health, PA Dept Of Health Abruptly Pull Out Of Public Meeting They Helped Convene
Our statement regarding the University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Department of Health abruptly dropping out of a public meeting on their own environmental health studies.

Desalination: The Chemical Industry’s Demand for Water in Texas
Desalination facilities proposed by the petrochemical industry in Texas could significantly impact fragile Gulf Coast ecosystems.

Take Action in Support of No New Leases
The federal government is accepting comments on a 5-Year Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Program. We need your voice to join in solidarity with communities in the Gulf and the Arctic and call for no new leases.
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Explore oil and gas infrastructure in your community and across the United States in FracTracker’s free app. You can add to the feed of user reports below by downloading the mobile app.