Oil, Gas Drilling Creates Health Hazards

The number of new gas and oil wells being drilled in the U.S. -- mostly in Western states -- has grown rapidly over the past 10 years, and with that growth comes an increase in pollution that's underregulated by the federal government, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The report, "Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production," recommends state and local governments close legal loopholes that exempt drilling operations from environmental regulations, require the oil and gas industry to start using pollution-limiting technology and conduct independent tests to assess health and environmental problems caused by drilling.

"Oil and gas production is a dirty process; many of the steps involved can be sources of dangerous pollution that can have serious impacts on the region's air, water, and land -- and on people's health," writes Amy Mall, NRDC Senior Policy Analyst and the report's principal author. "Despite the number of dangerous materials involved in oil and gas production -- and the frequent proximity of these operations to residences and other community resources -- the oil and gas industry enjoys numerous exemptions from provisions of federal laws intended to protect human health and the environment."

According to the NRDC, the oil and gas industry is exempt from many provisions of federal law, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and waste management laws. It added those exemptions are leading to health and environmental problems in the communities where gas and oil drilling has expanded in recent years.

"Many people who live near oil and gas operations experience the kinds of symptoms known to be linked to the toxic substances found in oil and gas or the chemical additives used to produce them," Mall said.

The "Drilling Down" report profiles families who live or lived near drill sites in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming, states where gas and oil exploration is growing most rapidly. People interviewed for the report said they have suffered from breathing difficulties, sore throats, burning eyes, nosebleeds, blisters, elevated heart rates, numbness, swelling and other ailments.

Toxins that can be released in oil and gas operations include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, hydrogen sulfide, arsenic, mercury and radioactive materials. Many of those chemicals have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and other health effects, the report notes.

Oil and gas drilling has expanded rapidly in the West in recent years, with more than 60,000 new wells coming online in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming alone between 1995 and 2005. Nationwide, the number of active gas wells rose from 270,000 to 425,000 during the same time period. And the report observes that the 15,000 new oil wells drilled in 2006 is the most for one year since the 1980s.

Following the release of the report, Mall testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Oversight and Government Reform Committee about her findings.

"Affordable pollution solutions are already available," she said. "It's past time for Congress to close the loopholes and eliminate the privilege to pollute."

Natural Resources Defense Council, "Toxic Oil and Gas Production Gets a Free Pass to Pollute." URL: (http://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/071031.asp)