Health and Public Safety
October 18, 2012 -
An analysis by the environmental watchdog group SkyTruth has found that drilling companies are continuing to violate the Safe Drinking Water Act by using diesel fuels when fracking for natural gas.
October 15, 2012 -
A study by Duke University researchers has found toxic contamination far exceeding federal standards for safe drinking water and aquatic life in lakes and rivers located near coal ash waste sites at power plants -- including the main drinking water source for Charlotte. The scientists say they hope their findings will spur better regulation.
October 11, 2012 -
The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a complaint on behalf of four environmental advocacy groups asking state regulators to require cleanup of documented groundwater contamination from coal ash storage ponds at 14 power plants owned by Duke Energy and its Progress Energy subsidiary.
October 2, 2012 -
A citizen lawsuit under the Clean Air Act seeks to force the Environmental Protection Agency to impose stricter limits on hazardous air pollution from oil refineries, which has been linked to cancer and other serious health problems.
September 28, 2012 -
The U.S. Geological Survey verifies earlier EPA findings that fracking for natural gas contaminated groundwater in rural Wyoming.
September 24, 2012 -
As the boom in oil and gas drilling sends a surge of waste into underground injection wells, safeguards for disposing of these materials are sometimes being ignored or circumvented.
September 21, 2012 -
From the health costs of air pollution, to the expense of preparing first responders for dealing with disasters, fracking for natural gas comes at a heavy price to local communities.
