Beth Weinberger
Research and Communications Specialist
Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project
I work with the Environmental Health Project (EHP), a Southwest Pennsylvania-based organization established to investigate and respond to the public health consequences of shale gas and oil development (fracking and related activities). Fracking communities are exposed to dangerous air contaminants as well as the risk of water contamination both of which can and do cause health impacts. The disparity in power between gas and oil companies and poor communities is enormous. The positions taken by local governments differ but often favor the financial enticement of fracking over health, and are often constrained by their states which favor oil and gas. The power wielded by the industry is financial and political but also includes control of information and the deployment of misinformation. I have a background in both Public Health and Political Science and am particularly interested in the intersection of the two and the possibilities of democratizing information and decision-making to support communities.
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The risks that shale gas and oil communities face are broad, and the avenues they have to protect themselves are narrow. Nationally, 12 million people live within ½ mile of active shale fracking wells. Three million children go to school within 1/2 mile of a site. The tons of chemicals and particles emitted from each individual site have known health impacts; many are carcinogens and reproductive toxics. Federal, state and local regulations favor shale development; and gas and oil companies possess an enormous degree of power. Without the ability to access and present emissions, exposure and health data, individuals, community groups, and even local public officials, are at a significant disadvantage. This affects real political dialogue.
The Environmental Health Project, based in southwest Pennsylvania, has developed a suite of health, environmental and community assessment tools to provide communities the opportunity to collect and interpret data to bring to the table when challenging new or existing shale infrastructure.
Environmental Justice in Shale Communities: Data Collection as an Instrument for Political Participation
Work Areas:
Air,
Community partnerships,
Community-based research,
Distribution of environmental hazards,
Extractive Industries,
Policy and Governance,
Water
