Mar 2: DEP protest on drilling setbacks

Setbacks for natural gas wells are not adequate to protect the public, say health researchers – Children’s organizations and families call on Pennsylvania leaders to do more to protect children’s health
Moms Clean Air Force will hold a press conference on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016, at the Pittsburgh office of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to support the authors of a new research study on setbacks. 

Authors of a new study published by Environmental Health Perspectives* will discuss their findings that most setbacks from oil and gas operations are not derived from peer-reviewed data, data driven analysis, or historical events – they instead are a compromise between governments, the regulated community, environmental and citizen interest groups, and landowners. Current setbacks are therefore not based on science and are insufficient to protect public health from the dangers of natural gas wells. Natural gas wells can emit dangerous pollutants such as benzene and hydrogen sulfide, and can pose a safety risk from blowouts and explosions. In addition to health researchers and environmental organizations speaking, moms from southwest PA will share their experiences  of living in the shale field, and how their proximity to oil and gas operations impacts their families. 

Location:        Department of Environmental Protection – Pittsburgh office
                           400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Date & Time:  March 2nd @ 10:30am
Speakers:       Patrice Tomcik, Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
            Dr. Marsha Haley, MD, Radiation Oncologist, study author
            Dr. Michael McCawley, PhD, Interim Chair, Department of Occupational and                          
            Environmental Health Sciences, West Virginia University, study author
            Chelsea Holmes, MS, Director of Community Education, Women for a Healthy Environment
            Jacki Smathers, Mars Parent Group, Mother of three children
            Jane Worthington, Nurse, Mother of two children in the Ft Cherry School District  

Contact: Patrice Tomcik, ptomcik@momscleanairforce.org 412-999-2360 with any questions.

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