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Campus Health and Safety Concerns Related to Hydrofracturing

Campus Health and Safety Concerns Related to Hydrofracturing. Mark Anderson, Associate Professor, University Libraries Wendy Highby, Associate Professor, University Libraries Marilyn Welsh, Professor, School of Psychological Sciences September 30, 2013.

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Campus Health and Safety Concerns Related to Hydrofracturing

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  1. Campus Health and Safety Concerns Related to Hydrofracturing Mark Anderson, Associate Professor, University Libraries Wendy Highby, Associate Professor, University Libraries Marilyn Welsh, Professor, School of Psychological Sciences September 30, 2013

  2. Surface Activity Nearest UNC Campus: the Midtown Directional, 37 Wells Near: • University Apartments • Jackson Field • Parsons Hall • Foundation Hall • Central Campus

  3. Surface Activity Near West Campus of UNC: the South Greeley Directional, 67 Wells Near: • Frontier Academy • Habitat for Humanity Store • High Plains Library District Offices • North Evans subdivisions • Wal-Mart

  4. Our Request: A Task Force Per Board of Trustees Adopted Policies, Section 1-1-206(1), Faculty Constitution and Bylaws, Senate has the authority to: “(c) initiate or review policies pertaining the general welfare of the University, its faculty or students (d) transmit resolution[s] regarding any manner concerning the University to the President and/or the BOT, and to the faculty for their consideration and/or further action.”

  5. History: Board of Trustees Lease Mineral Rights on November 18, 2011 • “UNC has a positive financial opportunity. . . we are recommending to the Board that we lease these rights to Mineral Resources Inc. This would include 246.22 net mineral acres and a $500 per mineral acre bonus payment, which amounts to $123,110. UNC will receive . . . a royalty of 16%. . . . There will be no surface oil and gas activity on our property, the drilling is horizontal. The return for us is in the royalty.”

  6. Parking Map of Central Campus

  7. McKenzie Study, 2012: Public Health & the Significance of the Half-Mile Radius “Our results show that the non-cancer HI from air emissions due to natural gas development is greater for residents living closer to wells. Our greatest HI corresponds to the relatively short-term (i.e., subchronic), but high emission, well completion period. . . We also calculated higher cancer risks for residents living nearer to wells as compared to residents residing further from wells.” --McKenzie, L., et al (2012). Human health risk assessment of air emissions from development of unconventional natural gas resources. Science of the Total Environment. 424 79-87

  8. Gilman Study, 2013: VOCs and Ozone in Weld County Test site: the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory tower, 2.5 miles east of downtown Erie, winter 2011. “We estimate that on average 55 +/- 18% of the VOC-OH reactivity was attributable to emissions from oil & natural gas operations indicating that these emissions are a significant source of ozone precursors.” “Average levels of propane were . . . Four to nine times higher than Houston, Texas, and Pasadena, California.” Gilman, J., et al. (2013). Source signature of volatile organic compounds from oil and natural gas operations in Northeastern Colorado. Environmental Science & Technology 47, 1297-1305; and CIRES Press Release. January 14, 2013. Oil and gas wells contribute fuel for ozone pollution. http://cires.Colorado.edu/news/press/archives.html

  9. Ozone Is a Regional Problem • “Propane and ethane are fairly long-lived in the atmosphere, so they travel far . . .” • “No matter where you are in the Front Range, you can still see the signature of VOC emissions from oil and natural gas operations. . . That’s important since parts of northeastern Colorado marginally exceed EPA standards for ozone pollution.” --Gilman, J., et al. (2013). Source signature of volatile organic compounds from oil and natural gas operations in Northeastern Colorado. Environmental Science & Technology 47, 1297-1305; and CIRES Press Release. January 14, 2013. Oil and gas wells contribute fuel for ozone pollution. http://cires.Colorado.edu/news/press/archives.html

  10. EPA Concludes Ozone Pollution Poses Serious Health Threats • Causes respiratory harm (e.g. worsened asthma, worsened COPD, inflammation) • Likely to cause early death (both short-term and long-term exposure) • Likely to cause cardiovascular harm (e.g. heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, congestive heart failure) • May cause harm to the central nervous system • May cause reproductive and developmental harm —U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Science Assessment for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants, 2013. EPA/600/R-10/076F. Accessed at American Lung Association website, www.stateoftheair.org/2013/health-risks/health-risks-ozone.html.

  11. Ambient Ozone and Mortality • David V. Bates, former Dean of the Medical School at University of British Columbia: [There is an] “urgent need to reduce public exposures to ambient ozone by all possible means.” --Bates, D. (2005). Ambient ozone and mortality. Epidemiology 16(4) 427-429.

  12. Colborn Study, 2013 (in press)www.endocrinedisruption.com While natural gas development . . . is moving closer to homes, schools, and places of business. . . more raw gas will be released into the atmosphere on a steady, daily basis. In order to determine how to reduce human exposure for both those who work on the well pads and those living nearby, systematic air quality monitoring of natural gas operations must become a regular part of permitting requirements. It is apparent . . . that the NMHCs [non-methane hydrocarbons] need far more attention not only because of their potential immediate and long term chronic health effects, but also for their secondary indirect health and environmental impacts as precursors to ozone.—Colborn, T., et al. (2013, in press). An exploratory study of air quality near natural gas operations. Human & Ecological Risk Assessment.

  13. Climate Change, Carcinogens: AJN Article • Methane release: “Public health threats related to climate change, which is partly a function of the continued release of greenhouse gases like methane, are forecast to be one of the greatest global health concerns of this century.” • Carcinogens: “High levels of known carcinogens in the air, such as benzene, have been attributed to natural gas drilling operations.” --McDermott-Levy, R., et al. (2013). Fracking, the environment and health: New energy practices may threaten public health. American Journal of Nursing, 113(6) 45-51.

  14. Ground Level Ozone and Particulates, AJN Article, Cont’d • Ground Level Ozone and Particulates: “The large fleets of diesel trucks (typically 1,000 to 2,000 per well) that are required to support the fracking process significantly increase ground level ozone and particulate matter . . .” • “Ground level ozone is a potent pulmonary irritant responsible for reduced pulmonary function and the exacerbation of asthma and emphysema.” • “Elevations in particulate matter are responsible for an increased incidence of asthma, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.” --McDermott-Levy, R., et al. (2013). Fracking, the environment and health: New energy practices may threaten public health. American Journal of Nursing, 113(6) 45-51.

  15. Medical Ethicists Advocate Precaution The organizations below have called for a moratorium on the issuance of new fracking permits • American Nurses Association • American Public Health Association • American Medical Association, Resident and Fellow Section --McDermott-Levy, R., et al. (2013). Fracking, the environment and health: New energy practices may threaten public health. American Journal of Nursing, 113(6) 45-51.

  16. Precautionary Principle When an activity raises threat of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. This principle includes: • Taking action in the face of uncertainty; • Shifting burdens of proof to those who create risks; • Analysis of alternatives to potentially harmful activities; and • Participatory decision-making methods --American Nurses Association (2007). ANA's Principles of Environmental Health for Nursing Practice with Implementation Strategies, ANA: Silver Spring, MD, http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Nurse/ANAsPrinciplesofEnvironmentalHealthforNursingPractice.pd

  17. The Wide Range of Possible Mitigations: It’s Not Too Late to Protect our Students and Community • Relocation of wellpads further than ½ mile from habitations • Relocation of people living and/or working within ½ mile • Postponement of drilling until safety is proven • Adherence to higher standards than currently required by regulations, such as using state-of-the-art technology, baseline and continuing air and water monitoring, enhanced notifications • Requiring health impact assessments, both baseline and longitudinal • Requiring that a percentage of profits/royalties be set aside to mitigate damages to community • Joining the “Fossil Free” divestment effort

  18. Collegial Spirit and Genuine Concern • President Kay Norton (02-14-2013): “We did not have sufficient campus conversation leading up to the Board’s decision in 2011.” • It is not too late for the Faculty Senate to respond to President Norton’s overture. A task force can be the next step in the campus conversation. • “I believe that the terms of the leases, state regulatory oversight, and the clear line of responsibility to one local operator all protect our interests in clean air and water in pursuit of energy production.” • Your petitioners respectfully disagree that the campus community is sufficiently protected; thus, we appear before you today to sound the alarm, and request a task force.

  19. Proposed Membership of the Task Force • One faculty representative from each college (EBS, HSS, MCB, NHS, PVA, UL); required to communicate with constituents; Senate membership not required • Additional faculty with expertise in: atmospheric science, economic cost/benefit analysis, environmental science, ethics, geology, psychosocial impacts, public health, public policy; others? • Representatives from campus-wide stakeholder groups, such as administrators, staff, students (SGA, LEAF, Residence Life/University Apartments residents); others?

  20. Ground Rules of Task Force • Two-way communication and transparency to ensure participatory decision-making: task force members communicate regularly with constituents; regularly disseminate information via listserv; centralize key information on a web site • Potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed at the beginning of the process, or if unexpected, as soon as they arise during the process • Resist “well-informed futility” syndrome; positive action is possible; e.g., at a minimum, the opening of a campus conversation will be accomplished; realistically, the health and safety of our students will be enhanced to some degree by our collective action

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