GAS FROM THE MARCELLUS AND UTICA SHALE PLAYS EXPOSE FAMILIES IN PA & NY TO RADIOACTIVITY.

DCS responded to the NY DEC radioactivity and solid waste regulation changes with important comments

Download DCS comments on Part 380 amendments as a pdf.
Download DCS comments on Part 360 (NY Solid Waste amendments) as a pdf.
Download joint comments and recommendations on Part 380 amendments as a pdf.
See DCS letters to NYC Speaker Quinn regarding radon in fracked gas.

The DEC is proposing amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 380, which regulates Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM).  These are materials whose radiation level is heightened through a production or engineering process.  So far, the DEC has failed to apply the EPA’s TENORM definition to the stuff coming out of Pennsylvania fracked wells. While all fracked gas has some radon, gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale in Pennsylvania can be 30 times the mitigation level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when it reaches your stove. Radon decays to (radioactive) polonium and lead. None of these substances burn. All of them cause cancer.

Despite Governor Cuomo’s stated commitment to the Paris Accord, to increasing renewables while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, our reliance on fracked gas continues to grow. The use of fracked gas for heating, electricity generation, and home cooking all expose New Yorkers to radon, polonium, and lead.  Workers are exposed when they perform maintenance on infrastructure. Residents in the pipeline right-of-ways are exposed to radon from fugitive methane and the discharge from compressor blowdowns.

We have until July 5th to tell the DEC to take action on this environmental and health hazard by applying the federal definition of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) to ALL the stuff coming out of Pennsylvania fracked wells.  We only have until July 5th.

Add a personal comment to one of our sample letters, located HERE.  Or use talking points (here) or a fact sheet (here) to write your own letter.

Email: 

Regs.Radiation@dec.ny.gov  (with subject line: Comments on Proposed Part 380)

Mail:

Sandra Hinkel
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Environmental Remediation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-7255