Latest Articles

Regulatory Gaps and Resistance: The Battle Over Fracking in Southern Illinois
Guest authors Sam Stearns and Tabitha Tripp dive into the complex history of resource extraction in Southern Illinois. Drawing on personal experience and the work of community organizers, they reveal the threats posed by fracking, the failures of regulatory agencies, and the urgent need for environmental justice.

Can California Energy Policy Move Past its Contradictions?
California's energy policy is riddled with contradictions. Explore how the state's climate goals clash with its continued reliance on fossil fuels, carbon capture, and fragmented regulations.

Data Gaps: A Critical Examination of Oil and Gas Well Incidents in Ohio
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Over the past eight years, approximately 2,000 incidents associated with oil and gas wells occurred in Ohio. Many incidents were not accurately categorized, meaning much of the data understates the severity of records.

Visualizing Environmental Injustice with Interactive Data: Cancer Alley, Louisiana
This article explores Cancer Alley, an 85-mile stretch in Louisiana that epitomizes the intersection of environmental justice and industrial development, where predominantly Black communities face disproportionate health risks from a high concentration of petrochemical plants and refineries.

The Supreme Court’s Brackeen v. Haaland Ruling: Tribal Sovereignty, Resource Exploitation, and Future Challenges
On June 15, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Haaland v. Brackeen, upholding the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978. This ruling prevented a broader attack on tribal governance, which could have extended to undermining legal protections over natural resources.

Announcing the 2024 Community Sentinel Award Recipients
Join us online or in Pittsburgh at The Westin Hotel for the 10th annual Community Sentinel Awards presentation on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

Indigenous Communities’ Fight Against CO2 Pipelines in the Great Plains
FracTracker Alliance and Great Plains Action Society have launched an environmental justice mapping tool to support Indigenous communities in their resistance against CO2 pipelines.

Analyzing Project 2025: Implications for Environmental Policy and Regulation
Project 2025 lays out a vision for reshaping federal policies under the next administration. This proposed shift could have wide-reaching implications for environmental policy and regulation.

Fracking’s Role in the 2024 Election: An Uncertain Future for Pennsylvania and Beyond
Fracking is a key issue in the 2024 election, especially in battleground states like Pennsylvania, where voters weigh its health, environmental, and economic impacts.

Mapping the Invisible Threat: Emissions from Oil and Gas
Hazardous air emissions in Pennsylvania are often hidden, leaking from abandoned wells, seeping from pipelines, and wafting invisibly into the air. This analysis utilizes new technologies and mapping tools to reveal the full scope of the problem and identify areas of particular concern in the state.

How Fracking Bans Protect Communities and the Environment
This article looks at the contrasting approach to fracking in Pennsylvania and New York. Pennsylvania’s extensive fracking operations have resulted in environmental and public health concerns. In contrast, New York’s ban on fracking has led to significant investments in renewable energy and permanent jobs.

Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Industry Trends: Drilled Wells, Violations, Production, and Waste
This article looks at trends in the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania, including the number of drilled wells, violations that have been issued, oil and gas production, and waste generation. We also point out examples of how data limitations make it challenging to answer frequently asked questions.

A Closer Look at Risks of the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
The U.S. Department of Energy's ARCH2 hydrogen hub project presents substantial risks to the environment and human health and safety.

Falcon Pipeline Criminal Charges Explained
On April 19, 2024, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry charged Shell Pipeline Company LP with 13 misdemeanor charges for failure to report or underreporting industrial waste releases during the construction of the Falcon Pipeline in Pennsylvania.

The Importance of Surveying Rural Landowners in North Dakota on Fracking
There is a need for more research on the human impact of the oil and gas industry in North Dakota, particularly on landowners and farmers, to understand their experiences and address their concerns effectively.

Exploring the Fallout of Precision Scheduled Rail: A Rail Worker’s Perspective on Precision Scheduled Rail
Precision scheduled rail has raised concerns about safety and infrastructure degradation, with railroads focusing on cutting costs at the expense of maintaining a robust network.

Exploring the Fallout of Precision Scheduled Rail: How Precision Scheduled Rail Led to One of the Worst Environmental Disasters in US History
Rail incidents like the East Palestine disaster underscore the urgent need for the rail industry to prioritize safety and compliance over profit-driven agendas.

Youngstown Residents Stand Against Pyrolysis Plant: A Community’s Fight for Environmental Justice
The story of SOBE Concerned Citizens and their fight against a pyrolysis plant in Youngstown, Ohio, is a testament to the power of community action in achieving environmental justice.

Not-So-Radical Transparency: An Ineffective and Unnecessary Partnership Between Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro and the Gas Company CNX
CNX’s “radical transparency” data provides incomplete information and heavily downplays the dangers of fracking.

California Must Improve Management of Idle Wells
California’s current regulations under AB 2729 have been inadequate to reduce the state’s counts of idle wells. This issue needs to be addressed immediately, before the state of California is exposed to additional economic risk.

Holes in FracFocus
An Open-FF analysis reveals how comprehensive regulatory and reporting reforms are imperative to closing holes in FracFocus data and holding the oil and gas industry accountable for its impacts.