As our local county evaporation ponds ordinance heads to the County
Council on October 7th, here's some more food for thought from our
Colorado neighbors...
By Phillip Yates
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado - Current data suggests that there is an
"acute problem with toxic emissions" from natural gas development,
which could signify an "emergent problem for the health" of Garfield
County residents, a recently released report said.
A group of seven researchers from the University of Colorado-Denver
and Colorado State University said in a report that there are "major
gaps" in the past assessment of air and water quality associated with
oil and gas development on the Western Slope.
But "air and water quality studies conducted to date indicate that
potential exposures to hazardous emissions exist" for Garfield County
residents, the report said.
The researchers also said there is an "immediate need for specific
information on exposures and the impact from oil and gas development
on all aspects of human health."
The group of researchers also called for further monitoring, and for
oil and gas companies to release water and air quality data that may
have been collected but are not in the public domain.
"Basically, the little information that there is demonstrates that
there is reason for concern and for further data collection," said
Roxanna Witter, a clinical instructor at CU Denver's Colorado School
of Public Health and one of the lead researchers on the report.
Witter said she and the others who worked on the report focused on
Garfield County because the area has seen the highest jump in drilling
permits in recent years.
Because of the concerns for county residents, the researchers have
called for the implementation of a health impact assessment to be
completed before oil and gas development near populated areas.
Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Carbondale and Pitkin and Eagle counties have
asked for a health impact assessment to be included in the BLM's
Glenwood Springs and Kremmling Resource Management Plan revision,
according to a previous Post Independent report. The plan is expected
to affect oil and gas industry activity on hundreds of thousands of
acres of Western Slope land for 10-15 years.
The group of seven researchers reviewed completed studies in the
county, along with a review of publicly available health data, to
prepare its report. The Natural Resources Defense Council paid the
University of Colorado-Denver for the report and a literature review
that was prepared in connection with it.
The studies the researchers looked at included air sampling conducted
in the county from 2005-07 along with its associated health risk
assessment.
Results from the 2005-07 air sampling indicated that "local
populations may be exposed to chemicals at levels hazardous to
health," according to the recently released report. Benzene, a known
carcinogen, was identified at levels of concern at 12 of 14 sites and
at seven of eight oil and gas sites, the report said.
Another study researchers looked at is a nearly finished human health
risk assessment done by Mesa State College and the Saccamanno Research
Institute at St. Mary's Hospital and Medical Center in Grand Junction.
Other studies the researchers looked at included a county water study
released in 2006 and ozone monitoring in the area.
Contact Phillip Yates: 384-9117
[hidden email]
--
Terry Shepherd
Executive Director
Red Rock Forests
90 W. Center St.
Moab, UT 84532
435-259-5640
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