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Newsletter
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California: Signal Hill employs firm with oil industry ties for drilling permit review
Residents of Signal Hill are opposing a proposal to extend a neighborhood oil drilling permit for 20 years, citing health risks and environmental concerns.
In short:
- Community members expressed concerns about health impacts, such as asthma and cancer, linked to local oil drilling operations.
- Signal Hill Petroleum seeks to extend its drilling operations, relying on an environmental review by a firm connected to the oil industry.
- California's Senate Bill 1137, if upheld, would restrict new wells and impose tighter regulations on existing ones near residential areas.
Key quote:
"The International Panel on Climate Change has stated that we must urgently ramp down fossil fuel production in order to avoid the most extreme effects of climate change. A proposed 20-year permit extension does the opposite."
— Catherine Ronan, Sierra Club’s Los Angeles chapter
Why this matters:
Extending oil drilling operations in residential areas poses significant health risks to the community, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The decision also challenges California's efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependence and mitigate climate change.
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Credit: Dominik Vanyi/Unsplash
New federal rule targets hazardous silica dust in mining
The recent initiative by U.S. federal authorities introduces stringent measures to combat the exposure of miners to dangerous silica dust, a move set to prompt significant health surveillance advancements in the mining industry. It could also increase understanding of health impacts among workers in metal mining connected to the energy transition.
In short:
- The Biden administration's new regulation aims to control silica dust exposure in mines, enhancing worker health protection and data collection on related diseases.
- Increased medical surveillance and periodic health examinations will be provided at no cost to miners, across all mine types.
- The rule emphasizes engineering controls over personal protective equipment to meet dust exposure limits.
- It may also advance understanding of the rate at which similar illnesses are increasing among mine workers in nickel, zinc and other metals tied to the energy transition.
Key quote:
"Doctors are diagnosing and treating more miners with black lung and other respiratory diseases than ever before, including at younger and younger ages.”
— Robert Cohen, clinical professor, University of Illinois Chicago
Why this matters:
Prolonged exposure to silica dust has been linked to an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The fine particles of silica can penetrate deep into the lungs, where they can cause cellular damage and increase the likelihood of cancerous growths. With demand increasing for critical metals necessary in the transition to cleaner energy sources, it's important to understand health risks for those miners as well.
Related: Study suggests pollution plays an outsized role in western Pennsylvania cancer rates.
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Newsletter
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Ecuador's Indigenous communities face pollution's heavy toll
In Ecuador, the Indigenous communities confront a grim reality as pollution and illness shadow their lives.
In short:
- Indigenous communities in Ecuador suffer from environmental pollution and health issues due to decades of oil exploitation by companies like Texaco, now Chevron.
- The pollution has led to a rise in cancers and other diseases among the local population, with legal battles against Chevron yielding little relief.
- Despite Chevron's claims of remediation, the affected communities continue to face severe environmental and health crises, with limited support from the Ecuadorian government.
Key quote:
"In a'ingae, my native language, the words oil, contamination, and cancer did not exist until Texaco arrived on our lands."
— Don Arturo, elder of the A'i Kofán Siangoé community
Why this matters:
Legal actions launched against oil companies and state agencies have aimed to address violations of constitutional rights to clean water, health, food, and nature. However, the process has been slow, and communities have expressed frustration with the lack of accountability and support from the state and the companies involved.
Be sure to listen to Dr. Carlos Gould on the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast, discussing global energy poverty and indoor air pollution.
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Pa. governor announces agreement with CNX, new fracking regs coming
Gov. Josh Shapiro went to Washington County to announce a voluntary agreement the state was signing with CNX, the Canonsburg-based natural gas driller.
Expanded Pa. environmental justice policy goes into effect this month
Pennsylvania's new environmental justice policy applies to inspections and enforcement, as well as engagement. It goes into effect this month but is still open for comment.
Big Stock Photo
Toxic debris from the Lahaina fire will be shipped to the mainland
Authorities don’t know how contaminated Lahaina is, but past wildfires show destroyed urban areas are strewn with hazardous waste that can complicate the remediation process.
Photo by Robin Sommer on Unsplash
Pa. Health Department to reveal results of child health studies in gas lands
On Tuesday evening, the Pennsylvania Department of Health plans to reveal the results of several highly-anticipated health studies that probe a possible link between oil and gas development and children’s cancer, asthma and poor birth outcomes in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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