Another company wants to treat oil and gas waste and discharge it into the Allegheny River watershed. To make matters worse, a state representative has tried to publicly shame those concerned about it.

For decades, studies have shown that conventional oil and gas wastes contain radioactive materials, hydrocarbons, chemicals and heavy salts that can be toxic and accumulate in the environment over time.

One such study, released earlier this year, seems to have been missed by Rep. Martin Causer, who, in a recent Bradford Era article, accused constituents of fear-mongering.

“People should learn the facts. It’s disturbing to me to see people try to scare other people with misinformation,” Causer said. (“Causer Urges DEP to Support Wastewater Facility in Bradford Twp.,” The Bradford Era, June 28, 2018)

It seems Mr. Causer has missed some facts himself and is misinforming the public about the “safety” of conventional oil and gas waste treatment:

• A Duke University study from January found that though “conventional oil and gas wastewater is treated to reduce its radium content,” this has not prevented “high levels of radioactive build-up in the stream sediments” over time. (See “Sources of Radium Accumulation in Stream Sediments Near Disposal Sites in Pennsylvania: Implications for Disposal of Conventional Oil and Gas Wastewater,” Nancy Lauer, et al., Environmental Science and Technology, Jan. 4, 2018)

• The researchers found accumulations of radium up to 650 times higher in sediments where treated conventional wastewater is discharged, compared to levels at locations upstream.

• These researchers use isotopic age-dating to determine when contamination occurs, and by what. (See “Radium Isotopes in Soil Reveal Age of Oil and Gas Wastewater Spills,” Avner Vengosh, et al., May 10, 2016)

The treatment of produced water from oil and gas operations is a real challenge that we, as communities, must face together. It is all of our responsibility to protect our watersheds. Mr. Causer should be working with, and not trying to publicly shame, the people
who take that responsibility seriously and approach it on the basis of science, not financial gain.