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California Regulators Approve More Oil Well Permits Amid a Crisis of Leaking Oil Wells that Should be Plugged

By Kyle Ferrar, MPH/July 29, 2022 / 6 minute read
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Overview

FracTracker’s in-the-field inspections and updated analysis of CalGEM permit data shows that California’s regulatory practices and permitting policies continue to put frontline communities at risk of exposure to degraded air quality from the emissions of VOCs from oil and gas wellsites. Additionally state inspectors have been failing to complete on-site investigations of well sites for leaks and other violations. This article explores the CalGEM permitting data for idle wells in California and discusses the California regulatory practices that have led to many leaking wells throughout the state. The article also includes an interactive map of the 49 leaking wells recently identified by the regulator CalGEM in June 2022.

Permit Tracking

Fractracker Alliance and Consumer Watchdog have updated the maps and figures on NewsomWellWatch.com that track California’s oil and gas well permitting trends. The most updated data for the second quarter of 2022 shows that the California Department of Geological Energy Management (CalGEM) has increased the number of oil and gas well rework permits issued, as compared to the previous year. Many of these wells that are being reworked present an immediate risk of leaks and casing failures, and should therefore be plugged and abandoned rather than reworked. Idle wells have not received the necessary oversight to prevent them from leaking in California, and regulators have not required long-term idle wells to be plugged and properly abandoned. CalGEM Permits for Idle Wells

This quarter’s CalGEM permit tracking update shows that permits for reworking oil and gas wells are up 124% as compared to 2021, see Table 1 below. Rework operations repair issues with oil and gas wells that occur downhole, in the annulus of the wellbore. These types of repairs are sometimes necessary to prevent casing failures and other hazardous issues. Reworks are also sometimes used to improve the flow of oil production out of a  well. For both these reasons, reworks can be an option for wells that should otherwise be plugged and properly abandoned. Oil and gas companies, known colloquially as operators, may conduct rework operations to avoid the closure costs associated with plugging a well and remediating the wellsite. In fact, 31% of the wells reworked in 2022 were already idle.

Table 1. Analysis of counts of permits issued by CalGEM for the second quarter of 2022.

Looking a bit deeper into the data, of the 1,400 idle wells that received rework permits from 2019-2021, over 70% of them remain idle today, and only 26% of them are currently active, meaning that the majority are not being reworked in order to resume production. Instead they are being reworked to fix minor issues and to also avoid plugging and closure costs. Additionally, while wellsites are undergoing rework operations they are exempt from California emissions regulations such as the Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities, Subarticle 13 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Division 3, Chapter 1, Subchapter 10 Climate Change, Article 4. This regulation, known as the California oil and gas rule, or the methane rule, is the only regulation for emissions for most neighborhood drill sites. This exemption allows idle wellsites to be serious sources of unregulated air pollution for up to 90 days at a time.

CalGEM Idle Well Inspections

Given the increase in rework permits for idle wells,  the recent discovery of 41 leaking idle oil and gas wells in Bakersfield is not surprising. Janet Wilson, the investigative journalist who broke the story on the leaking wells also reports that California’s top oil and gas regulator, CalGEM, instructed inspectors to conduct well inspections remotely from the office, in a bid by management to drive up the reporting of inspection numbers and meet ridiculous quotas of 5,000 inspections per month. Using a practice deemed “remote witnessing,” oil well reviews were done from the office rather than in-person in oil fields. According to Janet Wilson’s reporting:

Frustrated staff at the California Geologic Energy Management Division’s busy inland office say it’s a near-impossible task that likely contributed to the more than 40 wells belatedly discovered leaking methane near two Bakersfield neighborhoods in the past month.

In solidarity with frontline communities, FracTracker Alliance supported a demonstration at CalGEM headquarters on July 13, 2022,organized by VISIÓN and The Last Chance Alliance. Frontline community members and their supporters interrupted the daily operations at the CalGEM office building in Sacramento with a noise demonstration and sit-in, with actors playing the role of inspectors, dressed in business drag and clown paint, sitting behind full sized desks. The demonstration called on CalGEM and Governor Newsom’s administration to establish a 3,200 foot public health setback for new and existing oil wells and to require oil companies to plug existing idle wells. Images and video of the demonstration are shown in Figures 2 and 3 below.

Figure 2. Demonstrators at the California Natural Resources Agency building in downtown Sacramento, home of CalGEM put their feet up and take a load off as they imitate inspectors and other state regulatory policy of conducting “remote witnessing” inspections.
Figure 3. Local news coverage of the demonstration at CalGEM headquarters on Wednesday July 13, 2022.

Filming the Leaking Wells using a FLIR Optical Gas Imaging Camera

In a rapid response to the initial reports of leaking idle wells, FracTracker Alliance visited Bakersfield to conduct its own inspections of the leaking well sites. Armed with a FLIR Teledyne optical gas imaging (OGI) camera and certifications in optical gas imaging field work, FracTracker worked with the Central California Environmental Justice Network to identify and inspect idled and potentially orphaned wells that could be leaking near communities and homes. The map below of Bakersfield shows the locations of the leaking oil wells discovered by CalGEM, as well as the rest of the other 40,000 idle oil and gas wells in the state (nearly 12,000 located within 3,200 feet of a home or community).

CalGEM Leaking Wells in Bakersfield

This interactive map looks at leaking well sites in Bakersfield, California.

In order to turn layers on and off in the map, use the Layers dropdown menu. This tool is only available in Full Screen view.

All data sources are listed in the “Details” section of the map, as well as at the end of this article.

Items will activate in this map dependent on the level of zoom in or out.

View Full Size Map | Updated 7/29/2022 | Map Tutorial

Figure 4. Map of leaking oil wells discovered near Bakersfield, CA. CalGEM has hired contractors to fix these leaks and the majority are now fixed. It is unclear how many more leaking wells still exist.

FracTracker Alliance’s own field inspections in Bakersfield yielded the discoveries of several additional leaking wells, which were reported to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Additionally, field observations and discussions with CalGEM inspectors in the field indicated that CalGEM and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District were engaged in a region wide review of idle wellsites. CalGEM reported that the regulator had hired contractors to fix leaks and conduct maintenance on wells, since regulations do not currently exist to address these leaking wells or require their operators to fix the leaks. These wells fall through a regulatory loophole.

Distinct signs of maintenance were documented for the majority of wells visited during the site visits. Some images showing the maintenance are shown below in Figures 5 and 6. New stainless steel caps were installed covering drain pipes, new pressure gauges were installed on almost every well visited, and fresh teflon tape and pipe dope was applied to threaded connections. Regardless of the maintenance, multiple leaks were detected in downtown Bakersfield, from wells next to commercial office buildings and in public parks. Without consistent maintenance and vigilant oversight, California’s idle wells will continue to degrade and these wells will be leaking once more.

Figure 5. Image showing maintenance work conducted on and idle well in East Bakersfield. The red rings show the new equipment installed on the wellhead.
Figure 6. Images showing a leaking well in downtown Bakersfield, including a still taken with the OGI camera showing the detected leak.

Illegally Permitted Emissions from Oil Wells

Aaron Cantu, investigative journalist for Capital and Main, recently reported that the Central Valley’s air district  illegally permitted numerous methane and VOC emissions sources in this same region as the leaking wells. In this case, oil companies were granted phony emissions credits that allowed them to emit toxic and carcinogenic VOCs. FracTracker Alliance and Earthwork’s Community Empowerment Project thermographer Andrew Klooster joined Mr. Cantu in the oil fields of Kern County to investigate these sites. Again, the use of an OGI FLIR camera allowed for the visualization of VOC and methane emissions from these illegally permitted sources.

As a result of this corruption coming to light, Mr. Cantu also reports that multiple researchers serving as community liaisons to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Emission Reduction Credit Public Advisory Workgroup have resigned in protest. According to Mr. Cantu’s article in Capital and Main:

In a letter sent this morning to Samir Sheikh, the air district’s manager, and regulators at both the California Air Resources Board and the EPA Region 9 office in San Francisco, the members who stepped down expressed frustration with the district’s approach. “As representatives of the public, we can no longer be party to a sham process that gives the appearance of addressing systemic problems while sidestepping accountability,” they wrote. “We are gravely disappointed in the lack of constructive dialogue and substantive outcomes despite the [public advisory work group] being convened for almost 2 years.”

“Rather than addressing concerns raised by public representatives of the [public advisory work group], or resolving outstanding issues from the California Air Resources Board’s 2020 program review, meetings have mainly consisted of redundant technical information about potential avenues for issuing additional credits,” the signatories wrote.

Conclusion

It is clear that CalGEM largely dropped the ball on this issue and, as a result, communities are at risk of exposure to toxic and carcinogenic air pollutants. Rather than approving rework permits to keep aging and corroding wells operationally idle, CalGEM must require oil and gas operators to properly plug and abandon these wells and remediate the wellsites. Additionally, CalGEM should not be permitting new oil and gas wells, particularly near homes and communities. FracTracker Alliance urges Governor Newsom to require operators to plug and abandon these existing wells and to institute a 3,200’ public health setback to keep future extraction and leaks from oil and gas wells and infrastructure away from people, homes, and communities.

Topics in This Article:

Air, Health & Safety, Legislation & Politics, Wells

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Varying across municipalities, mine permitting in Michigan can bring very serious consequences. This is the second of a two-part series.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/TAuch_FracSand-Mine_Overburden_Waste-SylvanianMinerals_USSilica-SouthRockwood_MI_Sept20202.jpg 639 1500 Guest Author https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Guest Author2022-03-30 13:51:212022-03-30 13:51:21Permitting Aggregate Mines in Michigan Poses Very Serious Consequences

New Trends in Drilling Permit Approvals Take Shape in CA

March 15, 2022
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2 Comments
FracTracker's recent analysis finds that California's drilling permit approvals have slowed since last October, but not across the board. This trend only applies to permits for new drilling and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) wells.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BLenker_infrastructure-oilrig-southLA-CA_Oct20173.jpg 795 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2022-03-15 16:32:032022-03-15 18:00:00New Trends in Drilling Permit Approvals Take Shape in CA

Oil and Gas Drilling in California Legislative Districts

March 14, 2022
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FracTracker has been working with grassroots organizations to inform legislators and locals about oil and gas extraction in their districts, including maps and tables of the infrastructure in their areas.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/KFerrar-CAlegislative-analysis_March2022.jpg 720 1280 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2022-03-14 15:18:402022-03-14 15:18:40Oil and Gas Drilling in California Legislative Districts

Ten Things I learned from Taking Break Free From Plastic’s Toxic Tours

February 8, 2022
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FracTracker's Erica Jackson outlines ten things she learned in Break Free From Plastic's virtual Toxic Tours.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ToxicToursFeature.jpg 681 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2022-02-08 15:29:362022-02-08 17:20:38Ten Things I learned from Taking Break Free From Plastic’s Toxic Tours
PFAS wells in Colorado Feature

New Report: Fracking with “Forever Chemicals” in Colorado

January 31, 2022
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1 Comment
A report by PSR provides evidence that oil and gas companies have been using dangerous PFAS "forever chemicals" in CO wells.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PFAS-wells-in-Colorado-Feature.jpg 667 1500 Matt Kelso, BA https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Matt Kelso, BA2022-01-31 16:36:332022-01-31 16:36:33New Report: Fracking with “Forever Chemicals” in Colorado

Upper Ohio River in Beaver County: Impact of Petrochemical Facility Discharge on the Community and What’s Behind This Long Battle

January 4, 2022
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The petrochemical industry on the Ohio River regularly discharges wastewater into the river, toxic pollution harmful to public and environmental health.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FeatImage_CNie.jpg 879 1500 Intern FracTracker https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Intern FracTracker2022-01-04 11:53:562022-01-24 17:51:21Upper Ohio River in Beaver County: Impact of Petrochemical Facility Discharge on the Community and What’s Behind This Long Battle

Petrochemical Toxics in the Ohio River Watershed

December 21, 2021
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A look at the petrochemical industry’s footprint in the Ohio River Watershed and how much toxic pollution is discharged into waterways.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Adobe-stock-beaver-cracker-feature.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2021-12-21 10:49:162022-01-03 11:35:03Petrochemical Toxics in the Ohio River Watershed

New Letter from Federal Regulators Regarding how the Falcon has Been Investigated

December 1, 2021
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FracTracker received a letter from federal regulators with news on Shell's Falcon Pipeline investigation, but many concerns still remain.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/173695136_1422048161521006_7197500259062906334_n.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2021-12-01 15:27:402021-12-01 15:27:40New Letter from Federal Regulators Regarding how the Falcon has Been Investigated

US Army Corps Muskingum Watershed Plan ignores local concerns of oil and gas effects

December 1, 2021
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2 Comments
Local stakeholders' concerns about the environmental and health impacts of oil and gas in the Muskingum Watershed of Ohio have been minimized or excluded by the US Army Corps' environmental assessment.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TAuch_Infrastructure-naturalgas-powerplant-construction-Caithness-GuernseyCounty-OH_April2021.jpg 667 1500 Guest Author https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Guest Author2021-12-01 15:20:152022-01-04 17:53:55US Army Corps Muskingum Watershed Plan ignores local concerns of oil and gas effects

Fracking Wastewater Concerns Resurface on Pennsylvania Roads as the DEP Undergoes an Evaluation of Coproduct Determinations

November 10, 2021
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1 Comment
Though a 2018 legal win resulted in a statewide ban on the practice, unauthorized brine spreading in PA continues. Guest post by Fair Shake.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TAuch_Transportation-BrineHaulers-Moundsville_WV_April2019-feature.jpg 667 1500 Guest Author https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Guest Author2021-11-10 16:34:552021-11-10 16:37:10Fracking Wastewater Concerns Resurface on Pennsylvania Roads as the DEP Undergoes an Evaluation of Coproduct Determinations

Chickahominy Pipeline project tries to exploit an apparent regulatory loophole

November 1, 2021
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Local communities are skeptical of the Chickahominy Pipeline company, which plans to build a supply line through five Virginia counties. With no track record and very little experience in pipeline construction, the company's capacity to take on this project is questionable.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Chickahominy-feature.jpg 667 1500 Karen Edelstein https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Karen Edelstein2021-11-01 13:29:122021-12-17 11:53:41Chickahominy Pipeline project tries to exploit an apparent regulatory loophole

Map Update on Criminal Charges Facing Mariner East 2 Pipeline

October 29, 2021
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FracTracker mapped the 21 locations and over 120 violations by Energy Transfer Partner since Mariner East 2 Pipeline construction began.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Mariner-East-2-feature.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2021-10-29 13:02:432021-11-01 12:17:20Map Update on Criminal Charges Facing Mariner East 2 Pipeline

It’s Time to Stop Urban Oil Drilling in Los Angeles

September 14, 2021
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Oil & gas wells in Los Angeles disproportionately impact marginalized communities, producing dangerous levels of invisible, toxic emissions.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/NRDC-Urban-Drilling-feature.jpg 667 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2021-09-14 14:26:442021-09-14 14:26:44It’s Time to Stop Urban Oil Drilling in Los Angeles
Prison Strike Poster by Melanie Cervantes

California Prisons are Within 2,500’ of Oil and Gas Extraction

September 9, 2021
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California prisoners are on the frontlines of the environmental justice movement, thousands living within 2,500’ of operational O&G wells.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/National-Prison-Strike-poster-feature.jpg 667 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2021-09-09 08:00:082021-09-08 17:30:46California Prisons are Within 2,500’ of Oil and Gas Extraction
FracTracker map of proposed Renovo, PA power plant

New power plant proposal called senseless and wasteful by climate groups

August 26, 2021
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Residents and local advocacy groups are fighting a new power plant in Renovo, PA, planned to be constructed on an abandoned rail yard.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/kemap.jpg 400 900 Karen Edelstein https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Karen Edelstein2021-08-26 11:19:442021-08-26 15:08:04New power plant proposal called senseless and wasteful by climate groups

Ongoing Safety Concerns over Shell’s Falcon Pipeline

August 24, 2021
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Ohio River Valley Groups react to a new safety warning issued by federal regulators to Shell regarding the troubled Falcon Pipeline
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Falcon-Ohio-River-Crossing-Feature-A.LauschkeLightHawk-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2021-08-24 07:15:232021-08-23 17:30:12Ongoing Safety Concerns over Shell’s Falcon Pipeline
BLenker_infrastructure-oilrig-southLA-CA_Oct2017 feature

New Neighborhood Drilling Permits Issued While California Fails to Act on Public Health Rules

August 5, 2021
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California drilling permits continue while Frontline communities and grassroots groups call for an immediate moratorium and 2,500' setback.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/BLenker_infrastructure-oilrig-southLA-CA_Oct2017-feature.jpg 667 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2021-08-05 16:38:392021-08-05 16:38:39New Neighborhood Drilling Permits Issued While California Fails to Act on Public Health Rules

California Denies Well Stimulation Permits

July 20, 2021
California regulators recently denied 21 well stimulation permit applications—a welcomed move in the right direction—but not enough.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/California-oil-fields-feature.jpg 667 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2021-07-20 16:32:222021-07-20 17:36:11California Denies Well Stimulation Permits

Mapping PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Oil & Gas Operations

July 15, 2021
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2 Comments
FracTracker Alliance released a new map identifying the locations of over 1,200 oil and gas wells using toxic “forever chemicals” in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming. 
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PSR-PFAS-feature.jpg 667 1500 Matt Kelso, BA https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Matt Kelso, BA2021-07-15 07:55:282021-07-15 07:55:28Mapping PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in Oil & Gas Operations

Updated National Energy and Petrochemical Map

June 30, 2021
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1 Comment
We first released this map in February of 2020. In the year since, the world’s energy systems have experienced record changes. Explore the interactive map, updated by FracTracker Alliance in April, 2021.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/National-Map-2021-Feature.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2021-06-30 08:00:252022-05-02 15:24:21Updated National Energy and Petrochemical Map
EPA

Impacts of 2020 Colonial Pipeline Rupture Continue to Grow

May 26, 2021
In August 2020, the Colonial Pipeline ruptured, spilling an estimated 1.2 million gallons of gasoline—18 times more than originally reported.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Colonial-pipeline-spill-feature.jpg 667 1500 Karen Edelstein https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Karen Edelstein2021-05-26 07:00:272022-07-25 09:28:20Impacts of 2020 Colonial Pipeline Rupture Continue to Grow

2021 Pipeline Incidents Update: Safety Record Not Improving

April 14, 2021
The map below shows 6,950 total incidents since 2010, translating to 1.7 incidents per day. Pipelines are dangerous, in part because regulation around them is ineffective.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/49770601811_6cc7e18996_k.jpg 716 1500 Matt Kelso, BA https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Matt Kelso, BA2021-04-14 15:01:522021-04-26 17:02:402021 Pipeline Incidents Update: Safety Record Not Improving

Shell’s Falcon Pipeline Under Investigation for Serious Public Safety Threats

March 17, 2021
Shell’s Falcon Pipeline, which is designed to carry ethane to the Shell ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA for plastic production, has been under investigation by federal and state agencies, since 2019.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Falcon-Ohio-River-Crossing-Feature-A.LauschkeLightHawk-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2021-03-17 08:48:432021-04-15 15:11:21Shell’s Falcon Pipeline Under Investigation for Serious Public Safety Threats

Kern County’s Drafted EIR Will Increase the Burden for Frontline Communities

March 4, 2021
Built on sound data and ample research, FracTracker recommends several measures be taken to protect the health of California's overburdened Frontline Communities.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Arvin-CA-well-sites-and-schools-feature-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2021-03-04 15:29:422021-04-15 15:14:45Kern County’s Drafted EIR Will Increase the Burden for Frontline Communities
Los Angeles, California skyline

California Oil & Gas Setbacks Recommendations Memo

February 23, 2021
The purpose of this memo is to recommend guidelines to CalGEM for evaluating the economic value of the social benefits and costs to people and the environment in requiring a 2,500 foot setback for oil and gas drilling (OGD) activities.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Los-Angeles-skyline-feature-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2021-02-23 14:42:162021-04-15 14:08:42California Oil & Gas Setbacks Recommendations Memo

Industrial Impacts in Michigan: A Photo Essay & Story Map

January 29, 2021
Southwest Detroit and neighboring South Rockwood in Monroe County…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Control-your-dust-frac-sand-feature-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Ted Auch, PhD https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Ted Auch, PhD2021-01-29 10:30:092021-04-15 14:08:43Industrial Impacts in Michigan: A Photo Essay & Story Map
CA Setbacks Map

People and Production: Reducing Risk in California Extraction

December 17, 2020
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2 Comments
Executive Summary New research shows that low-income communities…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CASetbacksMappic.jpg 614 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2020-12-17 13:45:242021-04-15 14:16:02People and Production: Reducing Risk in California Extraction

Undermined: Voices from the Frontlines of Frac Sand Mining

November 20, 2020
FracTracker and Public Lab, with support from Save the Hills Alliance, produced "Undermined," an audio story featuring interviews with three residents impacted by the Hi-Crush Mine in Augusta, Wisconsin.
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Undermined-feature2-scaled.jpg 667 1500 FracTracker Alliance https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png FracTracker Alliance2020-11-20 15:52:252021-06-22 11:21:42Undermined: Voices from the Frontlines of Frac Sand Mining

Documenting emissions from new oil and gas wells in California

November 18, 2020
  Working with the environmental nonprofit Earthworks,…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/EQT-Tioga-Wide-7.gif 300 800 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2020-11-18 12:40:132021-04-15 14:16:04Documenting emissions from new oil and gas wells in California

Incinerators: Dinosaurs in the world of energy generation

October 19, 2020
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3 Comments
  In this article, we’ll take a look at the current…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Waste-to-Energy-facilities-in-the-US-feature--scaled.jpg 667 1500 Karen Edelstein https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Karen Edelstein2020-10-19 15:11:492021-04-15 14:16:05Incinerators: Dinosaurs in the world of energy generation
Pipeline Map

Mariner East 2 Causes Dozens of Spills Since Lockdown Began, Over 300 in Total

September 17, 2020
FracTracker Alliance has released a new map of drilling fluid…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ME2FeatureImage.jpg 666 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2020-09-17 11:20:062021-04-15 14:16:08Mariner East 2 Causes Dozens of Spills Since Lockdown Began, Over 300 in Total

Recommendations for an EIR to prioritize Kern County Frontline Communities

September 16, 2020
  Kern County Environmental Impact Report As we have discussed…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Pump_Jack_at_the_Lost_Hills_Oil_Field_In_Central_California-feature.jpg 833 1875 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2020-09-16 19:45:072021-04-15 14:16:08Recommendations for an EIR to prioritize Kern County Frontline Communities
Flaring at a natural gas compressor station in Butler County, OhioTed Auch, FracTracker Alliance

Health & Environmental Effects of Fracking

…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TAuch_Infrastructure-CompressorStation_Flaring-ButlerCounty_OH_Jan20183.jpg 833 1875 Shannon Smith https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Shannon Smith2020-09-04 16:56:012020-11-02 20:08:23Health & Environmental Effects of Fracking
Image courtesy of Lois Bower-Bjornson from the Clean Air Council.

Landscape Changes and Mental Health Impacts in Southwestern Pennsylvania Communities: A Qualitative Study

August 20, 2020
The primary goal of this qualitative study was to identify residents’ attitudes about the changing physical landscape resulting from fracking operations. Furthermore, how have these landscape changes affected residents’ engagement with the outdoors and their overall health?
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fracking-SW-PA-feature-Lois-Bower-Bjornson-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Intern FracTracker https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Intern FracTracker2020-08-20 11:07:572021-04-28 11:54:19Landscape Changes and Mental Health Impacts in Southwestern Pennsylvania Communities: A Qualitative Study

The Loyalsock Watershed Project

…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Loyalsock-feature-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Shannon Smith https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Shannon Smith2020-08-04 18:44:392023-01-17 10:30:44The Loyalsock Watershed Project

Testimony to PA DEP on Control of Methane & VOC Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Sources

June 29, 2020
This testimony was provided by Shannon Smith, FracTracker Manager…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/EQT-Tioga-Wide-7.gif 300 800 Shannon Smith https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Shannon Smith2020-06-29 11:04:372021-04-15 14:16:43Testimony to PA DEP on Control of Methane & VOC Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Sources
FracTracker Falcon Pipeline spills map

Falcon Pipeline Construction Releases over 250,000 Gallons of Drilling Fluid in Pennsylvania and Ohio

June 16, 2020
Part of the Falcon Public Environmental Impact Assessment - a…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FalconPipelineFrontPage-scaled.jpg 430 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2020-06-16 11:47:062021-04-15 14:16:44Falcon Pipeline Construction Releases over 250,000 Gallons of Drilling Fluid in Pennsylvania and Ohio
Map of New 2020 Fracking Permits in California

California, Back in Frack

May 7, 2020
California is once again a fracked state. The moratorium on well…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Map-of-New-2020-Fracking-Permits-in-California.jpg 720 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2020-05-07 12:48:132021-04-15 14:16:49California, Back in Frack
California well pad

California Setback Analyses Summary

April 2, 2020
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2 Comments
FracTracker Alliance has conducted numerous spatial analyses…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/California-well-pad.jpg 666 1500 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2020-04-02 10:20:422021-04-15 14:16:50California Setback Analyses Summary
Petrochemical development in the Houston, Texas areaPhoto by Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance, with aerial support by LightHawk

COVID-19 and the oil & gas industry

March 24, 2020
COVID-19 and the oil and gas industry are at odds. Air pollution…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/HoustonArea_feature.jpg 666 1500 Shannon Smith https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Shannon Smith2020-03-24 15:48:412021-04-15 14:16:51COVID-19 and the oil & gas industry
Compressor station within Loyalsock State Forest, PA.

Air Pollution from Pennsylvania Shale Gas Compressor Stations – REPORT

March 19, 2020
Air pollution from Pennsylvania shale gas compressor stations…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Compressor-station-within-Loyalsock-State-Forest-PA-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Guest Author https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Guest Author2020-03-19 13:16:212021-04-15 14:16:51Air Pollution from Pennsylvania Shale Gas Compressor Stations – REPORT
Truck on Dirt Road

Front Range Health Tracking Project

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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TruckFeatureImage.jpg 666 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2020-02-28 23:18:032020-07-17 10:27:25Front Range Health Tracking Project
destroyed home following pipeline explosion in San Bruno, CA

Pipelines Continue to Catch Fire and Explode

February 21, 2020
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2 Comments
For the past decade, petroleum operators in the United States…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/San-Bruno-Aftermath-feature-image.png 400 900 Matt Kelso, BA https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Matt Kelso, BA2020-02-21 16:13:542021-04-15 14:55:30Pipelines Continue to Catch Fire and Explode
Fracking Drilling rig in Washington County, Pennsylvania

Allegheny County Air Quality Monitoring Project

December 18, 2019
A recent study out of Carnegie Mellon University estimated that…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/drilling-rig-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2019-12-18 10:56:062021-04-15 14:55:33Allegheny County Air Quality Monitoring Project
Freiburg Recycling

The Circular Economy: What it means for Fracking and Plastic

November 24, 2019
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_5312-1-scaled.jpg 666 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2019-11-24 13:59:482021-04-15 14:55:35The Circular Economy: What it means for Fracking and Plastic

Want Not, Waste Not? Fossil Fuel Extraction’s Waste Disposal Challenges

October 3, 2019
Pennsylvania's fracking industry is producing record amounts…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/waste-disposal-site-feature-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Karen Edelstein https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Karen Edelstein2019-10-03 08:45:342021-04-15 14:55:39Want Not, Waste Not? Fossil Fuel Extraction’s Waste Disposal Challenges

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services

October 1, 2019
Guest Blog by Josh Eisenfeld, Director of Marketing with Fair…
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Ohio Secret Fracking Chemicals Report

Ohio’s Secret Fracking Chemicals

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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/OHSecretChem.png 1421 1100 Shannon Smith https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Shannon Smith2019-09-12 15:42:582021-06-11 15:00:22Ohio’s Secret Fracking Chemicals

Wildness Lost – Pine Creek

…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DSC_0624_LowRes-scaled.jpg 982 1500 Shannon Smith https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Shannon Smith2019-08-07 09:36:032020-03-20 17:32:33Wildness Lost – Pine Creek
Urban Drilling in Los Angeles

Impact of a 2,500′ Oil and Gas Well Setback in California

July 2, 2019
Why does California need setbacks? A new bill proposed by California…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SignalHill_DavidMcNew_GettyImages_edit.jpg 400 900 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2019-07-02 12:03:382021-04-15 14:56:29Impact of a 2,500′ Oil and Gas Well Setback in California

Pennsylvanians Demand a Response to Rare Cancer Cases, Other Health Impacts

June 26, 2019
New research on fracking health impacts, combined with unusually…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/well-house-swpa-ehp-scaled.jpg 667 1500 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2019-06-26 12:34:262021-04-15 14:56:29Pennsylvanians Demand a Response to Rare Cancer Cases, Other Health Impacts

Who Pays? Health and Economic Impacts of Fracking in Pennsylvania

May 28, 2019
Since the advent of unconventional shale gas drilling, some effects…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DrillingNearSchoolCA-1.jpg 445 959 FracTracker Alliance https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png FracTracker Alliance2019-05-28 13:54:472021-04-15 14:56:31Who Pays? Health and Economic Impacts of Fracking in Pennsylvania

The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet

May 16, 2019
Plastic has been getting a lot of negative press lately. It’s…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Plastic-Climate-1.png 512 1024 Erica Jackson https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Erica Jackson2019-05-16 11:39:262021-04-15 14:56:31The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet
https://www.kvpr.org/post/dormant-risky-new-state-law-aims-prevent-problems-idle-oil-and-gas-wells

Idle Wells are a Major Risk

April 3, 2019
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Designating a well as "idle" is a temporary solution for operators,…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IdleWellsHathaway_resize.jpg 400 900 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2019-04-03 11:30:582021-04-15 14:56:34Idle Wells are a Major Risk
DOGGR

Literally Millions of Failing, Abandoned Wells

March 29, 2019
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8 Comments
By Kyle Ferrar, Western Program Coordinator, FracTracker Alliance In…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/chevron-surface-expression_resize.jpg 400 900 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Kyle Ferrar, MPH2019-03-29 09:08:262021-04-15 14:56:53Literally Millions of Failing, Abandoned Wells
destroyed home following pipeline explosion in San Bruno, CA

Unnatural Disasters

February 8, 2019
Guest blog by Meryl Compton, policy associate with Frontier Group Roughly…
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https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/San-Bruno-Aftermath-feature-image.png 400 900 Guest Author https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-FracTracker-logo-horizontal.png Guest Author2019-02-08 19:21:012021-04-15 14:56:55Unnatural Disasters
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