Gabby Brown, 914-261-4626, Gabby.Brown@sierraclub.org
Rachel Rosenfeld, 484-893-0584, Rachel.Rosenfeld@sierraclub.org
Tom Schuster, 814-915-4231, Tom.Schuster@sierraclub.org
Harrisburg, PA -- Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that it will now require all landfills to test their leachate, or liquid runoff, for radioactive contamination like radium, which is commonly found in solid fracking waste accepted by landfills.
However, DEP did not lay out a protocol for what will be done in the event that radium is found. In addition to radium, fracking waste is known to contain other radioactive elements, harmful chemicals such as benzene and PFAS, and bromides which can react with chlorine in drinking water to form carcinogens.
In response, Tom Schuster, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter’s Clean Energy Program Director, issued the following statement:
"The announcement by the DEP that it will begin testing landfill leachate for radioactive contamination is an important step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to protect the public from toxic waste from the fracking industry. The fracking process has brought unprecedented amounts of radioactive material to the surface, while the industry continues to operate under minimal, loophole-ridden regulation of its waste. Landfills are not the only destination for the waste, and radium is only one of many hazardous substances it contains. We will continue to work to ensure that the oil and gas industry is accountable to protecting the public, its workers, and the environment from this hazardous waste."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.