fracking
Colombia halts oil deal with U.S. company over fracking concerns
Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered state-run Ecopetrol to cancel a $880 million joint venture with Occidental Petroleum, citing environmental risks from fracking.
In short:
- Petro opposed Ecopetrol’s extended deal with Oxy, which aimed to extract oil from Texas and New Mexico using fracking.
- The project, producing about 90,000 barrels of oil per day, accounted for 12% of Ecopetrol’s output in 2024.
- Ecopetrol’s stock initially rose on the deal but dipped after Petro’s call to cancel it.
Key quote:
““I want that operation to be sold, and for the money to be invested in clean energies. We are against fracking, because fracking is the death of nature, and the death of humanity.”
— Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia
Why this matters:
Fracking can pollute water, trigger seismic activity and produces greenhouse gases, making it a contentious issue worldwide. Colombia has banned fracking domestically and Petro’s decision reinforces his push for clean energy. Colombia, which relies heavily on oil and gas exports, risks alienating major U.S. energy companies and potentially weakening one of its key industries. This decision could also strain U.S.-Colombia relations at a time when the Trump administration has declared a "drill, baby, drill" energy agenda. American firms have significant investments in Colombia's energy sector.
Related: Colombian minister calls for transition from fossil fuels ahead of biodiversity summit
Texas city approves new fracking site near daycare and schools
A city council in Arlington, Texas, has approved plans for TotalEnergies to drill 10 new gas wells near a daycare center and elementary schools, despite opposition from residents concerned about air pollution and public health.
In short:
- Arlington approved a new fracking site for the first time in 12 years, allowing TotalEnergies to drill 10 wells near homes and schools.
- Residents voiced concerns over pollution and health risks, but the council passed the measure unanimously, citing state laws limiting local authority.
- Emissions from fracking sites in the area have been documented, including hydrocarbons and particulates near schools and daycares.
Key quote:
“There’s emissions that are going to come out of every site. They may have them relatively controlled, but they have permission to emit.”
— Tim Doty, pollution monitoring contractor
Why this matters:
The expansion of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has long been a point of contention in communities where oil and gas development sits uncomfortably close to homes, schools and daycares. In Arlington, Texas, where a dense population lives near active wells, the risks feel particularly acute. Scientific studies have linked pollutants released during fracking — such as benzene, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds — to respiratory issues, developmental delays and other health concerns, raising alarms about the potential impact on children.
Read more from EHN: "No evidence" that fracking can be done without threatening human health: Report
Burgum confirmed as Interior Secretary, set to boost fossil fuel extraction
https://www.ehn.org/north-dakota-governor-who-sued-interior-department-is-now-set-to-lead-it-2670996881.htmlDoug Burgum, a longtime fossil fuel advocate, has been confirmed as Interior Secretary, giving him control over millions of acres of public lands and offshore waters with a mandate to expand oil and gas drilling.
In short:
- Burgum, former North Dakota governor and oil industry ally, was confirmed by the Senate in a 79-18 vote to lead the Interior Department, overseeing public lands, tribal lands and national parks.
- He played a key role in connecting Trump with fossil fuel executives during the campaign and is expected to push policies that weaken environmental protections while ramping up domestic drilling and exports.
- While Republicans praised his stance on “energy dominance,” critics warned that his policies could accelerate climate change and undermine conservation efforts.
Key quote:
“The Trump administration’s climate and energy policies are not a mystery; it is to exacerbate the climate crisis.”
— Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii
Why this matters:
Federal land production already accounts for nearly 22% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and under Burgum, that number is likely to climb. His tenure will test just how far the U.S. is willing to lean into fossil fuels — even as the planet pushes back with record-breaking heat, floods and wildfires.
Read more:
Trump’s climate pivot: exiting Paris Agreement and boosting fossil fuels
In a sharp departure from Biden's climate agenda, President Donald Trump marked the first day of his second term by withdrawing from the Paris agreement and launching executive orders to expand fossil fuel production, citing energy security and economic growth.
Maxine Joselow, Chico Harlan and Evan Halper report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Trump officially withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, jeopardizing global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C.
- His executive orders included declaring a national energy emergency, expanding drilling in Alaska and pausing offshore wind projects.
- Critics fear this move signals U.S. unreliability in global climate cooperation, as allies warn of the consequences for emission reduction goals.
Key quote:
“We will drill, baby, drill.”
— U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking during his inaugural address
Why this matters:
If Trump’s first term taught us anything, this is just the opening act. Trump’s about-face leaves allies wondering if the U.S. can be trusted to stick to any long-term commitments on climate. For environmentalists, it’s a gut punch, not just for the planet but for public health. More drilling and fewer renewable projects mean more pollutants in the air and water, hitting already vulnerable communities hardest.
Read more:
Donald Trump wins US presidency. What that could mean for the environment
Researchers link radioactive contamination to oil and gas wastewater in Pennsylvania
Freshwater mussels in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny River show elevated radium levels, traced to oil and gas wastewater discharge, raising concerns about impacts on the food chain.
In short:
- Scientists found high radium concentrations in mussels and sediment downstream from a fracking wastewater discharge point, despite the facility no longer releasing waste.
- Mussels' radioactive contamination poses risks to species that consume them, including muskrats and bald eagles, with potential long-term ecosystem effects.
- Radioactive fracking waste persists in riverbeds, even years after discharges ceased, complicating waterway health recovery efforts.
Key quote:
"We know that radioactivity sticks around in the soft tissue of these mussels. It’s consumed by others. Where it goes from there, we don’t really know.”
— Nathaniel Warner, co-author of the study and associate professor of environmental engineering at Penn State University
Why this matters:
Radium-contaminated ecosystems can affect multiple species through bioaccumulation, including top predators and humans who rely on the waterway. With freshwater mussels already declining from pollution, this contamination adds to ecosystem strain.
Related EHN coverage: Fracking chemicals dumped in the Allegheny River a decade ago are still showing up in mussels: Study
Pennsylvania faces scrutiny over unregulated fracking wastewater pipelines
A whistleblower and a former Pennsylvania regulator revealed that fracking wastewater pipelines, carrying toxic and radioactive waste, remain unregulated and pose serious risks to communities and the environment.
In short:
- Pennsylvania’s fracking industry uses miles of unregulated pipelines to transport hazardous wastewater, with no state agency overseeing construction or operation.
- A 2022 pipeline spill contaminated a family’s well with radioactive waste, prompting a lawsuit and exposing regulatory failures.
- Experts warn these pipelines, often made of plastic, risk leaks that could cause long-term environmental and health damage.
Key quote:
“These are completely unregulated pipelines of toxic and radioactive shit.”
— Pennsylvania State Sen. Katie Muth
Why this matters:
Fracking wastewater pipelines transport highly toxic materials, threatening drinking water and public health. Without regulations, communities bear the burden of environmental degradation and potential health crises. Lawsuits and public pressure may be the only ways to demand accountability.
Related EHN coverage:
Shell’s Pennsylvania plastics plant: Pollution and broken promises
Residents near Shell's ethane cracker plant in Pennsylvania say pollution and economic letdowns have overshadowed the promised benefits of the facility.
In short:
- The Shell plastics plant, which processes fracked gas into plastic, has faced 33 violations for air and water pollution since 2017.
- Locals report respiratory issues, foul odors and water concerns while promised economic benefits have fallen short, with the plant employing only 500 full-time workers.
- Critics accuse Shell of overstating benefits and using community donations to downplay the plant's environmental impact.
Key quote:
“I have to live in a cocoon year-round.”
— Nadine Luci, local resident
Why this matters:
The facility's emissions threaten both public health and the Ohio River watershed, affecting millions. Despite promises of economic growth, the project delivers limited jobs and raises concerns about pollution’s long-term effects on local communities.
Related EHN coverage: