Media Releases
Mine proposal could deplete southeast Arizona town’s drinking water aquifer
Earthworks
October 28, 2014
Patagonia – The Hermosa silver mine proposed inside Patagonia, Arizona’s Municipal Supply Watershed could deplete the town’s drinking water and perpetually contaminate area groundwater with acid mine drainage, according to a new peer-reviewed report. Reviewed by a USGS scientist and released by the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance and Earthworks, the study also concludes that drinking water wells of surrounding residents are also threatened.
Tagged with: mining, water pollution, arizona, acid mine drainage, silver, patagonia, hermosa, wildcat silver, water consumption, manganese
Infrared videos show Denton oil and gas air pollution still unaddressed by regulators
Earthworks
October 21, 2014
Oct 21st, Denton, TX -- Newly released infrared videos taken over the past three months show that oil and gas air pollution is ongoing, chronic, and unaddressed in Denton, Texas despite assurances of safety by industry. The videos make visible normally invisible volatile organic compounds emissions (VOCs) -- such as carcinogens like benzene.
Tagged with: fracking, texas, air pollution, ban, vocs, denton, flir
Millions of Americans urge Obama administration to curb oil and gas climate pollution
Earthworks et. al.
October 16, 2014
Washington, DC – Today, 130 local, state and national organizations representing millions of Americans sent a letter to President Obama urging him to immediately begin a rulemaking process to curb methane pollution from oil and gas development, the nation’s second largest industrial climate polluter after power plants. Methane, the principal component of natural gas, is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20 year time period.
Tagged with: fracking, air pollution, climate change, obama, methane
Colorado Fracking Commission Meets for 1st Time
Earthworks
September 25, 2014
Statement of Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project Director Bruce Baizel
Tagged with: fracking, colorado
Public Floods EPA with Support for Protection of Bristol Bay from Mining
Earthworks and Nunamta Aulukestai
September 22, 2014
Dillingham, AK/Washington D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received 700,000 comments in support of its plan to use its Clean Water Act authority to restrict mine waste disposal from the Pebble Mine proposed in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. When combined with previous public input, over 1.5 million comments have been submitted in favor of Bristol Bay protection, including broad and diverse support from Alaska Native Tribes, commercial fishermen, hunters and anglers, businesses like CREDO Mobile, churches, conservation groups, restaurants, jewelers and investors.
Tagged with: mining, epa, bristol bay, alaska, salmon
Groups file appeal on Longmont fracking ban
Earthworks, et al
September 10, 2014
Denver, CO - A coalition filed an appeal on Wednesday to uphold the democratically-enacted ban on fracking passed by Longmont voters in 2012. Represented by the University of Denver Law Clinic, the groups Our Longmont, Food & Water Watch, Sierra Club and Earthworks filed the appeal to overturn a district court decision that places the interests of the oil and gas industry over the health and safety of local citizens.
Tagged with: fracking, colorado, ban, longmont, local control
PA Environmental Organizations Challenge PA-DEP Claims of Adequate Oil & Gas Oversight
Earthworks et. al.
August 28, 2014
Harrisburg, PA – Environmental and citizen organizations sent Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary, Chris Abruzzo a letter today challenging the agency’s response to issues raised in Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s DEP Performance Audit, released on July 22nd. The audit identified serious flaws in the DEP’s oil and gas monitoring and enforcement programs.
Tagged with: fracking, pennsylvania, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, water contamination
Lawmakers hope to fund monitors for quakes in North Texas fracking areas
Dallas Morning News | Marissa Barnett
August 25, 2014
Read this article on the publishing site
AUSTIN — Lawmakers said Monday that they’re looking for money to add seismic monitors in areas with oil and gas production, following concerns about a series of earthquakes that rattled North Texas last winter.
For now, at least, it’s just a pipe dream. The Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas production, doesn’t have any plans in the works for more monitors or for permit surcharges to oil and gas operators.
Tagged with: fracking, texas, earthquakes
State oversight allows flaring in North Dakota and Texas to emit greenhouse gases equal to 1.5 million cars
Earthworks, Skytruth
August 22, 2014
Aug 22 -- Today Earthworks released a new report showing that eliminating natural gas waste in two shale plays would have the same effect as taking 1.5 million cars off the road. The report is accompanied by an interactive map developed by SkyTruth showing flaring activity in the U.S. and around the world based on nightly, infrared satellite data.
Tagged with: fracking, texas, air emissions, methane, north dakota, flaring
Groups Sue EPA for Letting Polluters Pass the Bill for Their Spills to the Public
Earthjustice, Earthworks, et al
August 11, 2014
Washington, D.C. — Earthjustice on behalf of Idaho Conservation League, Earthworks, Sierra Club, Amigos Bravos, Great Basin Resource Watch, and Communities for a Better Environment filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to issue key rules mandated by the Superfund Act (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA)
Tagged with: regulation, financial assurance, bonding, cercla 108b
New report: Pennsylvania prioritizes fracking at expense of law, health, environment
Earthworks
August 7, 2014
Washington, DC - The environmental and health impacts of gas development have been connected for the first time with a lack of state oversight on a site-by-site basis in a new report released by Earthworks. A year in the making, Blackout in the Gas Patch: How Pennsylvania Residents are Left in the Dark on Health and Enforcement documents and analyzes the permitting, oversight, and operational record of 135 wells and facilities in seven counties--and identifies the associated threats to water and air that are harming the health of nearby residents.
Tagged with: fracking, regulation, pennsylvania, water, enforcement, pennsylvania department of environmental protection, health, air, dep
BC Mine Failure Highlights Pebble Mine Risks
Earthworks
August 5, 2014
This week’s devastating tailings dam failure at the Mount Polley copper mine in British Columbia, which released vast amounts of mine waste into streams, rivers and lakes, raised alarms with Alaska Native communities and conservation groups concerned about the proposed Pebble Mine. The groups are urging the EPA to finalize proposed mine waste restrictions in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed.
Tagged with: mining, tailings, canada, tailings dam, toxic mine waste
15,000 Urge Federal Gov’t to Protect SW Oregon Watersheds from Mining
Earthworks
August 5, 2014
Portland OR – Today over 15,000 petition signatures were delivered to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to support a mineral withdrawal for public lands in critical watersheds in southwest Oregon, including the North Fork Smith River, Baldface Creek, Rough & Ready Creek, and Hunter Creek.
These signatures build upon the request of a broad coalition of local and national conservation groups to withdraw these public lands from mining in response to proposals for nickel strip mining in the area.
Withdrawal of Colorado fracking ballot initiatives disappointing, community protection still possible through commission
Earthworks
August 4, 2014
DURANGO, CO: We are disappointed that Colorado’s environmental rights ballot initiative that would have allowed local governments to protect their citizens from the potential harms of oil and gas drilling has been withdrawn.
Tagged with: fracking, colorado
Energy Dept. methane steps are welcome, but no substitute for EPA rules
Earthworks
July 29, 2014
While we applaud the commitments made by the Department of Energy, labor unions, utility groups and other stakeholders, voluntary measures and new research initiatives don’t adequately protect communities and the climate.
These rules can be a first step down the road to limit dangerous methane pollution and begin to truly shift our energy systems away from an “all of the above” strategy to one that throws the full weight of our resources behind renewable energy.
Tagged with: fracking, climate change, methane
Groups vow to appeal ruling on Longmont fracking ban
Earthworks et. al.
July 24, 2014
Tagged with: fracking, colorado, ban
Auditor General Issues Critical PADEP Audit: Pennsylvania Environmental Organizations Applaud Investigation’s Goals
Earthworks et. al.
July 22, 2014
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania’s Auditor General office released a highly anticipated audit of the Department of Environmental Protection’s performance regarding shale gas development today. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale stated that the audit “…shows that the meteoric growth of the shale gas industry caught the Department of Environmental Protection unprepared to effectively administer laws and regulations to protect drinking water and unable to efficiently respond to citizen complaints”. The report is available here: http://bit.ly/WxCXzk
Tagged with: fracking, pennsylvania, water contamination
EPA Releases Plan for Restricting Mine Waste Disposal in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed
Earthworks and Nunamta Aulukestai
July 18, 2014
Washington, D.C. – An unusual group of Alaska Native leaders, commercial fishermen, investors, jewelers and conservation organizations applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release today of its Proposed Determination - a detailed plan for restricting mine waste disposal from the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. The EPA has authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to restrict mine waste disposal that will harm important fisheries. Alaska’s Bristol Bay supports the largest and most productive wild salmon fishery in the world, supplying half of the world’s supply of wild sockeye salmon and generating 14,000 annual jobs and over $450 million in annual revenue.
Tagged with: mining, epa, bristol bay, salmon, 404c
Congressional initiative would end billions in public land and mineral giveaways, protect scarce water, create jobs
Earthworks
July 10, 2014
July 10, 2014, Washington, D.C. – U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (OR-4) and Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Ranking Member Raul Grijalva today introduced a long-needed overhaul of the 142-year-old law governing mining of minerals such as gold, copper and uranium on federally-managed public lands.
Tagged with: mining, 1872 mining law, reform
BJ’s Wholesale Club Says ‘No’ to Dirty Gold
Earthworks and BJ's Wholesale Club
July 2, 2014
July 2nd – Today, BJ’s Wholesale Club, with 202 locations in 15 Eastern U.S. states, became America’s first independent wholesale club company to commit to responsible metals sourcing by endorsing the No Dirty Gold campaign’s Golden Rules, a set of social, human rights, and environmental criteria set to improve metal mining practices around the world. BJ’s is also pledging to source their metals without harming Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed – the world’s largest wild salmon fishery.
Tagged with: mining, no dirty gold, golden rules, our bristol bay, bristol bay pledge
Scientists: Fracking Polluted Texas Family’s Drinking Water
June 6, 2014
Last night a Texas TV station broke the news that new independent analysis refutes the oft-repeated claim by the oil and gas industry that “there’s never been a confirmed case of fracking polluting drinking water”.
Tagged with: fracking, water pollution, range resources, lipsky, geoffrey thyne, wfaa
Fracking ban ballot initiative submitted to Denton City Council
Earthworks
May 7, 2014
Ban garners almost as many signatures as voted in last election
EagleRidge response to evidence of their pollution exemplifies need for a ban
Denton, Texas, May 7 -- Today the Denton Drilling Awareness Group submitted for certification to the City Council 1,871 signatures in support of a fracking ban within Denton city limits. 2,200 people voted in the last municipal election.
“These signatures represent Denton citizens of every political stripe coming together to protect their homes and families from the fracking industry,” said Denton Drilling Awareness Group president Cathy McMullen. She continued, “I worked with the City for years to improve fracking oversight, to no avail. It’s clear this industry will do whatever it can get away with, and the City is paralyzed by the fear of the political consequences of reining it in. A fracking ban is our last and only option.”
Upon receipt of the petition, the City Secretary has twenty days to validate the signatures. Then the City Council must call a public hearing and within sixty days vote on the petition. If approved, it becomes law. If rejected, Denton registered voters consider it as a ballot initiative – likely during the November general election.
Tagged with: fracking, regulation, texas, barnett shale, ban, denton, denton drilling awareness group, eagleridge
New legislation would undo state laws on fracking toxics
Earthworks and Environment America
April 28, 2014
Washington, D.C., Apr 28 -- The current draft of the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA), made public today, would add another special oil and gas industry loophole to federal environmental law. CICA, legislation that aims to “reform” the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), would block states and localities from requiring the oil and gas industry to reveal the toxics they inject through the water table during hydraulic fracturing. The legislation would also prohibit states or localities from regulating or banning toxic chemicals used in the drilling and fracking process, such as benzene and diesel fuel.
Tagged with: fracking, toxics, disclosure, chemicals, trade secrets
$3 Million Fracking Damages Jury Award Shows Why Industry Avoids Trials
April 23, 2014
Tagged with: fracking, texas, lawsuit
EPA methane research welcome, but no substitute for renewables
Earthworks
April 15, 2014
While we encourage the EPA to do everything within its power to stop methane emissions from oil and gas production, that is no substitute for dropping dirty fossil fuels replacing them with truly clean alternatives like conservation and renewable energy.
Tagged with: fracking, epa, methane
Earthworks applauds Rio Tinto's withdrawal from Pebble Mine proposal in Alaska's Bristol Bay
Earthworks
April 7, 2014
Earthworks applauds Rio Tinto’s decision to withdraw from the Pebble Mine proposal that threatens Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed, home to the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon fishery.
Tagged with: bristol bay, alaska, pebble, indigenous, rio tinto
Statement of Lauren Pagel Earthworks Policy Director On the Obama Administration’s Methane Strategy
Earthworks
March 28, 2014
"We applaud the White House for taking a first step to curb methane emissions, a climate pollutant that is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
The administration must follow Colorado’s lead and require the Environmental Protection Agency to directly regulate methane pollution from hydraulic fracturing and related drilling. The consequences, both globally and locally, are too dire to allow for self regulation.
Tagged with: fracking, methane
Conservation Groups File Suit to Protect Montana’s Smith River
Earthworks, Montana Environmental Information Center and Earthjustice
March 17, 2014
HELENA – Proposed mining exploration activities at the headwaters of Montana’s famed Smith River threaten to degrade water and further strain already low stream flows, according to a formal legal complaint filed in Montana District Court.
Conservation advocates, supported by Smith River outfitters, filed the formal complaint on Friday, March 14th against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Tintina Alaska Exploration, Inc., alleging that DEQ failed to conduct an adequate analysis of the many environmental impacts associated with the Black Butte Copper Project, a copper exploration mine proposed by a subsidiary of Canada-based Tintina Resources, Inc.
Tagged with: mining, montana, smith river, black butte copper
Fracking ban exceeds signature requirement to get on november ballot
Denton Drilling Awareness Group and Earthworks
March 14, 2014
Denton, TX (Mar 14) – Frack Free Denton today announced they have gathered substantially more than the required signatures to put their fracking ban initiative on the November ballot. Denton City charter requires signatures equal to 25% of votes cast in the most recent general election for an initiative to get on the ballot.
Tagged with: fracking, texas, ban, denton
Fracking Boom Would Increase California’s Earthquake Danger, Report Finds
March 13, 2014
Hundreds of Oil Wastewater Wells Near Active Faults and Major Cities Already Raising Quake Risk for Millions of Californians
SAN FRANCISCO— Oil companies are increasing California’s earthquake risk by injecting billions of gallons of oil and gas wastewater a year into hundreds of disposal wells near active faults around Los Angeles, Bakersfield and other major cities, according to a new report from Earthworks, the Center for Biological Diversity and Clean Water Action.
Tagged with: fracking, california, earthquakes, acidizing, wastewater injection, seismic risk
Washington, D.C. City Council opposes fracking in George Washington National Forest
Earthworks
March 5, 2014
Council resolution passes due to concerns controversial practice threatens DC water supply
Washington, D.C. -- The DC City Council yesterday passed a resolution opposing hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling for natural gas in the George Washington National Forest due to concerns that such development might contaminate drinking water supplies. The 1.1 million-acre forest, located in Virginia and West Virginia, contains headwaters of the Potomac River, the sole source of drinking water for the nation’s capital.
Tagged with: fracking, drinking water, george washington national forest, dc city council
Proposed EU law will not keep conflict resources out of Europe, campaigners warn
Earthworks, Global Witness, et al
March 5, 2014
A law proposed by the European Commission on responsible sourcing of minerals is not strong enough to prevent European companies’ mineral purchases from financing conflict or human rights abuses, and falls far short of expectations, campaigners said today.
Instead of putting forward robust legislation that would require a wide range of EU-based companies to do checks on their supply chains – known as due diligence – the Commission today announced voluntary measures that will only apply to companies importing processed and unprocessed minerals into the European market. The proposal covers companies involved in the tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold sectors. The campaigners warned that the Commission’s proposal – an opt-in self-certification scheme available to a limited number of companies – is likely to have minimal impact on the way that the majority of European companies source natural resources.
Tagged with: mining, conflict minerals, european union
EPA Acts to Protect World’s Largest Wild Salmon Fishery from Pebble Mine
Earthworks
February 28, 2014
Dillingham, AK & Washington, D.C.: Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is invoking its Clean Water Act authority to assess permanently prohibiting or restricting mine waste disposal into Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. This decision puts on hold attempts to build the Pebble Mine, which would be North America’s largest open pit gold-copper mine.
Tagged with: mining, epa, gold, bristol bay, alaska, pebble mine
Citizens of Denton, Texas Call For Fracking Ban
Denton Drilling Awareness Group and Earthworks
February 18, 2014
Denton, Texas, February 18 – The Denton Drilling Awareness Group (Denton DAG) today announced they are collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to ban hydraulic fracturing within city limits. If approved by voters, Denton would become the first major Texas city to ban fracking, and the first city in the country to ban fracking after permits had been previously granted.
Tagged with: fracking, texas, ban, denton
New EPA Fracking Diesel Guidance Step in Right Direction
Earthworks
February 11, 2014
Washington, D.C. — Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released long-awaited guidance (see below for links) describing how the oil and gas industry may use diesel fuel in the fluids used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking). When it takes effect sometime this year, this will be EPA’s first formal rule or guidance dealing with fracking’s threat to drinking water.
“Diesel and drinking water don't mix,” said Earthworks executive director Jennifer Krill. She continued, “Even the Cheney-era Congress recognized diesel’s hazard to drinking water. That’s why, even as they passed the Halliburton loophole to the Safe Drinking Water Act, Congress left the door open for this first-ever EPA oversight of fracking’s threat to drinking water.”
Tagged with: fracking, epa, regulation, water pollution, drinking water, diesel, guidance
100 jewelers say ‘no’ to dirty gold on Valentine’s Day
Earthworks' No Dirty Gold campaign
February 11, 2014
Feb 11, WASHINGTON, DC – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, over 100 of the world’s leading jewelry retailers– including 8 of the top 10 in the US– have committed to more responsible metals sourcing by signing the No Dirty Gold campaign’s Golden Rules.
“Dirty gold just isn’t romantic,” said Payal Sampat of Earthworks’ No Dirty Gold campaign. “Retailers don’t want consumers to associate gold jewelry with polluted rivers and child labor, and they are joining us in calling on the mining industry to clean up its act.”
Tagged with: mining, no dirty gold, jewelry retailers, golden rules, 2014, brilliant earth, beth gerstein, nunamta aulukestai, kimberly williams, valentine's day
Congress investigates EPA’s Texas “overreach”, ignores EPA & impacted communities
Earthworks
February 4, 2014
Washington, D.C. & Weatherford, TX – The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on February 5th entitled “Examining the Science of EPA Overreach: A Case Study in Texas.” On the agenda: Region 6’s intervention to protect Parker County residents whose drinking water was polluted by fracking-enabled methane gas development.
In 2012 Senator James Inhofe asked the Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General to investigate Region 6’s intervention. Although the IG released its findings late last year, they were not invited to testify. The IG’s report concluded Region 6 was fully justified in acting to protect area residents from pollution linked to Range Resources’ gas drilling.
Tagged with: fracking, epa, texas, house science committee
Texas fracking regulators to quake-damaged community: suffer while we study
Earthworks
January 21, 2014
Austin/Azle, Jan 21 – Today 50 residents of the Azle/Reno area traveled to Austin to compel the Texas Railroad Commission to publicly declare how they were going to address the issue of fracking-related earthquakes. Thirty quakes have occurred in the area since fracking wastewater injection wells began.
Despite scientific authorities linking fracking wastewater injection wells to earthquakes, including the United States Geological Survey and the National Academies of Science, the Railroad Commission announced at the meeting that they would not take action to protect the public until after their seismologist had studied the issue in Texas.
Tagged with: fracking, texas, earthquakes, railroad commission
New study shows Ortiz mine proposal is thirsty and dirty: could consume water equal to use of 7,800 New Mexicans, contribute to climate change, and drain acid into surrounding watershed in perpetuity
January 16, 2014
Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 16th, 2014. A new coalition of jewelers and conservation groups today released Public Risk, Private Reward: an analysis of the Ortiz Gold Mine proposal, revealing that Santa Fe Gold corporation’s proposed 1000+ foot deep open pit mine in the Ortiz Mountains would consume enough water to sustain thousands of households, and potentially endanger area water supplies by draining acidic runoff into groundwater in perpetuity.
Tagged with: mining, new mexico, dirty gold, jewelry retailers, groundwater, acid mine drainage, santa fe gold
Alaska Native Tribes, Jewelers, Investors, Commercial Fishermen and Conservation Groups Applaud EPA’s Final Study of Large-Scale Mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay Watershed
Earthworks
January 15, 2014
Tagged with: mining, epa, bristol bay, alaska, pebble mine, salmon, northern dynasty
Inspector General: EPA justified in intervention to protect drinking water from fracking-enabled pollution
December 24, 2013
Tagged with: fracking, epa, regulation, water pollution, texas, range resources, methane, parker county, inspector general, steve lipsky
Comment Period on Drilling Regulations Offers Opportunity for Vital Input
Earthworks et. al.
December 16, 2013
Harrisburg, PA – Environmental groups welcomed Saturday’s news that the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) proposed updates to Chapter 78 of the Oil and Gas Act were finally sent out for public comment. Though this was viewed as a positive step, the organizations emphasized the need to strengthen many of the vital regulations being proposed.
“Although our organizations believe there is much that needs to be changed in the proposed regulations, it was time DEP submit its regulatory plans for public scrutiny and comment,” said Thomas Au, State Conservation Chair of the Sierra Club.
Tagged with: fracking, oil and gas, pennsylvania
Environmental, Health, Sporting Organizations, Call on Interior Secretary Jewell, EPA Administrator McCarthy to Curb Methane Emissions from Oil And Gas Industry
Earthworks et. al.
December 5, 2013
WASHINGTON, December 5, 2013 – A broad group of regional and national environmental and health organizations, joined by sporting and faith-based allies, today called on Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to substantially reduce emissions of methane from the oil and gas industry on public and private lands, as well as from offshore oil operations. In an open letter, the organizations invoked President Obama’s June 2013 statement that “curbing emissions of methane is critical to our overall effort to address global climate change,” and recommended three essential pathways to clean up methane emissions and set the nation on a path to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
Tagged with: fracking, epa, methane, doi, emissions
Groups urge Canadian officials to withdraw government support of Rosia Montana mining proposal
Earthworks, MiningWatch Canada, etal
December 5, 2013
(Ottawa) December 5, 2013. MiningWatch, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Council of Canadians and Earthworks join the call of Romanian and Canadian protesters to request the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Members of Parliament for:
Introduction of legislation to make Canadian corporations, particularly extractive industry corporations, accountable for proposed projects and actual operations abroad and
Withdrawal of Canadian Government support for Gabriel Resources' mining project in Romania at Rosia Montana.
Tagged with: mining, fpic, canada, romania, gabriel resources, rosia montana
Christmas gifts come early for fracking industry: House to give oil & gas companies weaker oversight of environmental and public health impacts
Earthworks
November 20, 2013
Tagged with: fracking, regulation, congress, house of representatives, hr1965, hr2728, hr1900
New Fracking Report Finds High Levels of Water Consumption and Waste Generation
Earthworks et. al.
October 30, 2013
Charleston, West Virginia, October 30, 2013—Today, a report was released that provides the most recent and comprehensive investigation of water used and waste generated by Marcellus Shale gas extraction operations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Based on state and industry data, the report finds that the volumes of water and waste are a cause for concern, and inadequate industry reporting requirements leave the true extent of the problem unknown.
Tagged with: fracking, water, water contamination, waste, water withdrawal, water usage
Fracking-Harmed Residents from Across the U.S. Confront President Obama and EPA, Demand Reopening of Investigations of Poisoned Drinking Water in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming
Earthworks et. al.
September 25, 2013
Washington, D.C. –Today, residents personally harmed by gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” held a press conference in front of the White House and then delivered 250,000 petition signatures from concerned citizens across the United States to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy at EPA headquarters. The residents - including Ray Kemble from Pennsylvania, Steve Lipsky and Shelly Perdue from Texas and John Fenton from Wyoming - were all part of the EPA fracking investigations in their respective states that EPA abandoned despite evidence of water contamination. The petitions were collected by Stop the Frack Attack and Americans Against Fracking and its advisory committee member, actor Mark Ruffalo. The petitions demand that the EPA reopen investigations into fracking-related drinking water contamination in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming and provide residents with safe drinking water in the interim.
Tagged with: fracking, epa, pavillion, dimock, parker county
New EU law could help stop natural resource trade fuelling conflict
Earthworks, Global Witness, Et al.
September 24, 2013
A coalition of 59 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is calling on the European Commission to pass a strong law to prevent European businesses fuelling conflict and human rights abuses through their purchases of natural resources, such as tin, gold and diamonds. The call comes ahead of draft legislation due to be published by the Commission by the end of 2013.
Tagged with: conflict minerals, eu, europe
New Report: Fracking Pollution Sickening Residents in TX, Regulators Walk Away
Earthworks
September 19, 2013
Washington, DC – A new report released today, September 19th, provides an important window into a disturbing national pattern regarding the oversight of fracking-enabled oil and gas development: regulators, charged with protecting the public, are actively avoiding evidence that fracking is harming the public. The report focuses on Karnes County, TX in an attempt to illuminate a growing national pattern of absentee regulators.
Tagged with: fracking, air pollution, health and toxics, enforcement, eagle ford shale, tceq, regulators
Press Statement of Earthworks Executive Director Jennifer Krill regarding Anglo American’s Withdrawal from the Pebble Mine Proposal
Earthworks
September 16, 2013
Mining corporation Anglo American announced on Monday it has canceled its investment in the Pebble copper-mine project in Bristol Bay, Alaska, dealing a major blow to a proposal to exploit a vast swath of American wilderness that is home to the world’s largest remaining wild salmon fishery.
Tagged with: mining, gold, bristol bay, alaska, anglo american, pebble mine
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