A new analysis from public data shows that Native American communities often face disproportionate health impacts from air pollution from the oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt are seeking to eliminate federal rules designed to limit waste and air pollution from this industry on tribal lands.
Reports
Tribal Communities at Risk: The Disproportionate Impacts of Oil and Gas Air Pollution on Tribal Air Quality
Fumes Across the Fence-Line: The Health Impacts of Air Pollution from Oil & Gas Facilities on African American Communities
The oil and gas industry dumps 9 million tons of methane and toxic pollutants like benzene into our air each year. Methane is a greenhouse gas 87 times more potent than carbon dioxide at driving climate change and the oil and gas industry is now the largest source of methane pollution in the U.S. But methane is just one harmful air pollutant from the oil and gas industry. This paper sheds light on the health impacts of air pollutants from oil and gas facilities that specifically threaten the health of African American communities living near oil and gas facilities and in areas far from oil and gas production.
State of the Air 2018
American Lung Association’s annual national air quality “report card” State of the Air 2018 uses the most recent air pollution data, compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for the two most widespread types of pollution—ozone (smog) and particle pollution (PM2.5, also known as soot). The report grades counties and ranks cities and counties based on their scores for ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution levels. Since 2000, the American Lung Association has analyzed data from official air quality monitors to compile the “State of the Air” report.
Oil & Gas Pollution’s Impacts on North Dakota Families
North Dakotans and Americans alike need EPA’s and BLM’s rules to protect them from methane and other harmful air pollution resulting from oil and gas activities.
Residents of the Fort Berthold Reservation and across North Dakota are already paying the price for oil and gas leaking and venting, and they will continue to do so if we get rid of our vital pollution safeguards.
We know if the federal pollution standards are suspended or repealed, millions across the country will face the same unfair health challenges already impacting Native Americans in the region.
Oil & Gas Pollution’s Impacts on Texas Families
EPA’s New Source methane pollution standards apply to 7,400 “new and modified” oil and gas wells across the state of Texas; in order to reduce toxic emissions and comply with the EPA’s standards, “new and modified” facilities are required to install pollution control equipment when they are first built or when an older facility is modified and to regularly inspect and fix leaky equipment.
Now, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is attempting to suspend these common sense leak detection and repair requirements at the behest of the oil and gas lobby. If these safeguards are suspended, or even worse repealed, families and children in Texas will undoubtedly face an ever-growing public health crisis from unchecked pollution in their communities, near schools, churches, and neighborhoods.
Permitted to Pollute: How Oil & Gas Operators and Regulators Exploit Clean Air Protections and Put the Public at Risk
Permitted to Pollute is an unprecedented study of how state regulatory oversight of oil and gas operations, authorized by the Clean Air Act to protect air quality and public health, in some cases actually undermines both.
PSR Health Report-Too Dirty, Too Dangerous
There are compelling reasons to question the use of natural gas (methane), given the risks it poses to human health. This report summarizes recent scientific findings that document methane’s implications for health
The Oil and Gas Companies Suing to Pollute Without Limits
These 104 companies emitted 38.6 million metric tons of methane, measured in carbon dioxide equivalent, in 2014 and 38.1 million metric tons in 2015. The 2015 emissions are equivalent to the emissions generated from running more than 11 coal-fired power plants for a year or the emissions from burning 20 million tons of coal.18The United States could power 4 million homes for a year with the methane that these companies wasted in 2015.19
Latino Communities at Risk The Impact of Air Pollution from the Oil and Gas Industry [SPANISH LANGUAGE VERSION]
Many Latino communities face serious health risks caused by air pollution. What’s more, higher poverty levels and relatively lower rates of health insurance increase these health threats from air pollution translating into a bigger health burden on Latino communities. This report for the first time quantifies the elevated health risk that millions of Latinos face due to pollution from oil and gas facilities.
Latino Communities at Risk The Impact of Air Pollution from the Oil and Gas Industry
Many Latino communities face serious health risks caused by air pollution. What’s more, higher poverty levels and relatively lower rates of health insurance increase these health threats from air pollution translating into a bigger health burden on Latino communities. This report for the first time quantifies the elevated health risk that millions of Latinos face due to pollution from oil and gas facilities.