Today’s Essential Reads
FRACKING:
Colorado Study Finds Fracking Risks for Nearby Residents
People living within a half-mile of oil-and-gas well fracking operations were exposed to air pollutants five times above a federal hazard standard, according to a new Colorado study.
Colorado Study Links Fracking to Air Pollution
Air pollution released during the completion of an oil and gas well, a process that includes hydraulic fracturing (fracking) may contribute to health problems for people living near a natural gas drilling site, according to an announcement Monday about a new study by the Colorado School of Public Health.
Center Seeks To Shed Light On Fracking And Health
In the continuing debate over whether fracking for natural gas contaminates drinking water, a new health center in the midst of Pennsylvania’s drilling country may provide fresh clues. The nonprofit Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project offers screening, advice and referrals for people who believe their health has been damaged by living near gas-drilling sites.
Study Finds Health Risks to Well-Pad Neighbors
A new study warns of health risks from air pollution to those living within a half mile of gas drilling pads, particularly during the hydraulic fracturing phase.
Groundwater May Be Clean, But Colorado Fracking Is Still Sickening Residents
The University of Colorado came out with a study this week (the study will be published in the next issue of Science of the Total Environment) that shows the very real health hazards presented to those who are unfortunate enough to live near a hydrofracturing well.
BP OIL SPILL:
Obama to Fast Track Southern Portion of Keystone XL Pipeline
President Barack Obama plans to announce in Cushing, Oklahoma, on Thursday that his administration will expedite the permit for the southern half of the Keystone XL pipeline, a source familiar with the president’s announcement told CNN.
Oil from Deepwater Horizon Disaster Entered Food Chain in the Gulf of Mexico
Since the explosion on the BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, scientists have been working to understand the impact that this disaster has had on the environment. For months, crude oil gushed into the water at a rate of approximately 53,000 barrels per day before the well was capped on July 15, 2010. A new study confirms that oil from the Macondo well made it into the ocean’s food chain through the tiniest of organisms, zooplankton.
Transocean Holders’ Suits Over Rig Explosion Dismissed by Judge
Transocean Ltd. (RIG), owner of the oil rig leased to BP Plc (BP/) that exploded and spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, won dismissal of investor claims that the company failed to disclose repeated safety failures.
Oil Firm Given Go-ahead for Canary Islands Drilling
One of Britain’s best-loved holiday destinations is under threat from oil prospectors who have been given permission to drill for offshore fields, according to local authorities and hoteliers in the Canary Islands.
RADIATION:
NRC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Order
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public comment on a proposed order regarding station blackouts at the nation’s nuclear power plants.
