Health Impact Assessment of Shale Gas Extraction Workshop Summary (2014) / Chapter Skim
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9 Research Opportunities: Federal Representatives
9 Research Opportunities: Federal Representatives
Pages 105-116
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From page 105... ...
Deputy Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Bob Perciasepe stated that while the EPA plays a broad role in environmental protection and natural resources management, its scope of work goes well beyond wildlife and endangered species to the EPA's priority in environmental public health.
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From page 106... ...
Mr. Perciasepe also discussed the new executive order that is requiring agencies to be more coordinated in looking at all of the issues related to natural gas development, including hydraulic fracturing.
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From page 107... ...
Mr. Perciasepe emphasized that safe water is a priority area of concern, including drinking water sources, the amount of water being used in the hydraulic fracturing process, and underground chemical injection control.
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From page 108... ...
Senior Advisor for Public Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institutes of Health John M Balbus described the NIEHS as a complex research institute with many programs that can help play a role in determining health implications of hydraulic fracturing.
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From page 109... ...
The group is reviewing hydraulic fracturing chemicals and seeking to determine the most appropriate mixtures. One large challenge that Dr.
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From page 110... ...
The agency does not have regulatory or resource management responsibilities. Its mission is to produce objective, unbiased science and thus is uniquely positioned to support the President's executive order that emphasizes the need for coordinated science and coordinated activities to support the decisions surrounding environmental health issues potentially related to shale gas extraction.
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From page 111... ...
The agency scientists are also developing laboratory methods to measure chemicals in a wide range of fluids, including the fluids produced in hydraulic fracturing. Other research activities include using groundwater flow modeling to predict the fate of injected fluids, documenting landscape changes using specific satellite imagery to understand implications for wildlife, and induced seismicity as a result of wastewater and fluid injection subsequent to a fracturing process.
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From page 112... ...
and that is before the proliferation of hydraulic fracturing. Shale gas extraction has many of the same hazards associated with this industry, but also introduces new hazards previously unseen to this extent in the petroleum industry.
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From page 113... ...
This program may need to be extended and linked with environmental public health tracking to improve surveillance in areas where shale gas extraction is prevalent. Finally, the medical education group at NCEH can develop guidance for health care professionals to enhance their understanding of the effects of some of the hazards seen with shale oil extraction, such as noise and stress, on overall health status.
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From page 114... ...
She noted that there has not been an assessment of the global reserves of shale gas but the geographic survey directors globally are meeting to begin to understand those reserves. During the discussion, it was noted that different agencies have responsibility for different aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process and that front-line public health officials may not know which agency to call.
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From page 115... ...
Health goes beyond health care payments, health care reform -- health includes the environment, but it is a dimension of health that is often overlooked. Another audience member noted that an unprecedented number of workforce reductions have occurred at the state and local levels which makes responding to challenges such as hydraulic fracturing difficult, if not impossible.
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From page 116... ...
It is known that within the Piedmont areas of the East Coast, radon is an issue, but it is an issue for a number of reasons, not just shale gas extraction. The state geological surveys are in the process of completing state geologic maps.
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