Public Health Enhancement Opportunities Phase 2. John L. Adgate and Lisa M. McKenzie. Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado

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1 Appendix H: Air Quality (Task 5.3.6) H.11 Public Health Enhancement Opportunities Final Report Public Health Enhancement Opportunities Phase 2 by John L. Adgate Lisa M. Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Submitted to: Houston Advanced Research Center April

2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was funded by a contract from the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), through the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA). The information presented in this report does not necessarily reflect the views or positions of DOE or RPSEA. 2

3 1.0 Scope of Work Development of new Environmentally Friendly Drilling (EFD) technologies processes in natural gas exploration production (E&P) through the Technology Integration Program (TIP) provides opportunities to maximize the public health benefits of natural gas development by reducing the potential for negative public health effects during E&P activities. Our Phase 2 scope of work included (1) identification of public health tradeoffs for a generic natural gas development site by incorporating public health measurements, including air surface ground water, emissions, social measures into the Environmental Friendly Drilling (EFD) Technology Integration Program (TIP) assessment, as well as to identify public health features disseminate these features through reports educational outreach materials; (2) an assessment of data collected by our EFD TIP partners from field tests identified in Phase I to qualitatively evaluate the public health features of each field test to compare public features between tests; (3) a public health assessment of modern low footprint rig; (4) technical comments on written sections for the Unconventional Gas Social Impact Assessment (UGSIA) report; (5) assessment of Sensorpedia technology as a public health tool. Our key deliverables include a comprehensive literature which summarizes public health implications of natural gas development; a public health web page; a preliminary report on community noise levels around a modern O&G pad in the Niobrara Shale of northwestern Colorado. This report summarizes our accomplishments deliverables, which are included as an appendix to this document. 2.0 Accomplishments Milestones Year 1: In year 1, we focused on identifying potential public health effects associated with natural gas extraction outreach activities. Identifying these public health effects is an essential step that allowed us to describe the public health features of the EFD TIP technologies. We hired a student to aid in a comprehensive literature review, prepared a scientific manuscript summarizing the results of the literature review, submitted this manuscript to Environmental Science Technology for peer review. 3

4 We also participated in a site visit to the Dewitt Ranch in the Eagle Ford in June, This provided an opportunity to observe the air water monitoring studies. We learned about the perspective the ranch owners have on natural gas extraction, which will inform evaluation of psychosocial effects of natural gas Year 2: In Year 2, we completed the literature review summarizing studies on health risks from unconventional natural gas development focused on outreach activities. The manuscript summarizing the results of the literature review was published in Environmental Science Technology (Appendix A). We developed the public health web page with our TIP partner, the Getches-Wilkinson Center at the University of Colorado Law School. The public health web page was designed to identify EFD technologies best management practices that may mitigate health risks potentially associated with natural gas extraction, as well as links to relevant peer reviewed studies. Year 3: In Year 3, we continued work with the Getches-Wilkinson Center at the University of Colorado Law School to complete launch the public health web page (Appendix B). The launch of the public health web included a press release. After its launch, we updated the public health web page with current information. The public health page is available at: The data provided by our EFD partners did not have the specificity that would have been necessary to update the conceptual site models developed in Phase 1 the Sensorpedia project was not completed in time for us to evaluate the public health aspects of EFD technologies. In addition, we were not asked to comment on the UGSIA report. However, we did perform a couple of additional tasks, not originally scoped, a noise assessment an evaluation of the suitability of Colorado air data sets for assessing public health impacts of O&G We measured noise levels surrounding a modern oil production site in a residential area in northwestern Colorado s Niobrara shale region reported our findings in a scientific report (Appendix C). Noise levels ranged between A-weighted decibels (dba), average levels were higher at night compared to daytime. Noise levels exceeding 50 dba may be detrimental to health. This preliminary study provides a basis for further investigation into noise around O&G operations in residential areas. 4

5 In our evaluation of air data sets available in Colorado that may have relevance to the Eagle Ford, we found several that are suitable for assessing public health impacts from O&G They include data collected by the Colorado Department of Public Health Environment, Boulder County Colorado, data collected as part of the Front Range Air Pollution Photochemistry Experiment (FRAPPE) ( These data sets will be used in a cumulative health risk assessment currently underway that has been funded under a separate grant from National Science Foundation Sustainability Research Network grant ( In all years we participated in most EFD monthly calls conducted a range of extensive outreach activities (Table 1). This included participating in scientific workshops with industry, community, scientists, addressing research needs concerning natural gas extraction; presentations at national local conferences. In addition, we began development of a learning module on O&G development for public health officials, which is still in the development phase. The following table summarizes manuscripts, presentations, workshop participation over the duration of the grant. The public health web page will continue to feature EFD technologies best management practices that may mitigate health risks potentially associated with natural gas extraction, as well as links to relevant peer reviewed studies. 5

6 Table 1: Summary of Manuscripts, Presentations, Outreach. : Title Date Location Participant Summary Manuscripts Public Health Risks from Gas Development in the United States Residential noise measurement near an oil production site in Colorado. Published in Environmental Science Technology: Potential public health hazards, exposures health effects from unconventional natural gas Environ Sci Technol. 2014; 48 (15): ) Submitted for Publication, March 2016, Environmental Research Presentations Workshops 2013 Workshop to Develop December 12-13, Washington DC, Recommendations for Best Sponsored by NRDC, 2013 Practices for Environmental Monitoring Related to Unconventional Oil Gas Extraction Public Health Enhancement Opportunities in EFD-TIP Community & Public Health Panel: Research Questions Needs Workshop on Air Quality Oil &Gas Development in the Rocky Mountain Region EFD TIP Advisory Committee Meeting, November 12, 2013 Third Annual Natural Gas Symposium at Colorado State University, October 15, 2013 SRN AirWaterGas October 21-22, 2013 Drs Adgate Adgate Joint EFD-SRN workshop Golden, Colorado August 15, 2013 Evaluation of risks to public health from chemical nonchemical stressors, description of likely exposure pathways potential health effects, identification of major uncertainties associated with unconventional natural gas Noise levels near an unconventional oil production pad was measured over several months. Levels ranged between A- weighted decibels (dba). The purpose of this workshop is to develop recommendations for best practices for environmental monitoring related to unconventional oil gas extraction Presented: Summary of Year 1 tasks literature review manuscript. Presented served as a discussant on the public health community panel at this Symposium by the Center for the New Energy Economy, which focuses on science policy issues. The purpose of this workshop was to bring scientists together to discuss air quality activities studies occurring in the Rocky Mountain region. The purpose of this workshop was to bring scientists from the EFD TIP SRN AirWaterGas studies to discuss collaboration common research goals. 6

7 : Title Date Location Participant Summary Forum on Science, Democracy, Community Decisions on Fracking University of California, Los Angeles, July 2013 Sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists The purpose of this workshop was to bring experts together to discuss environmental health effects potentially associated with unconventional shale gas Natural Research Council s Workshop on Risks of Unconventional Shale Gas Development Community Exposure Risk Near Natural Gas Production Sites: Impacts Research Needs Natural Gas Development Health Impacts: Use of HIA Quantitative Risk Assessment in Garfield County May 30, , Washington DC Society of Toxicology Annual conference, March 2013, San Antonio, TX University of Denver, February 2013 Presentations Workshops 2014 Unconventional Resource ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Development: Evaluating Inc., Annadale, NJ, December 15, the Health Implications 2014 Health Risks Associated with Development of Gas Resources: Colorado Studies League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Straight Scoop on Shale Project, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, October 27, 2014; Wintertime Ozone Particulate Matter Health Effects Planning Meeting, U.S.EPA Region 8, Fort Duschesne, Utah, October 22, 2014; American Chemical Society Regional Meeting, Denver Colorado, October 20, Adgate The purpose of this workshop was to bring scientists together to discuss research needs concerning environmental health potentially associated with unconventional shale gas The purpose of this invited session at the national meeting of the SOT was to bring scientists together to discuss research needs concerning environmental health potentially associated with unconventional shale gas Presented methods results to students on the 2010 health impact assessment quantitative risk assessment in Garfield County, Colorado. methods for evaluating Unconventional Resource Development health implications with researchers at ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc. results from Colorado studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional natural gas resources. 7

8 : Title Date Location Participant Summary Exposure Health Impacts Along the Energy Production Distribution Supply Chain International Society of Exposure Science 2014, Cincinnati OH, October 2014 Adgate results on oil gas development the relationships between ecosystem services public health. Natural Gas Production & Distribution: Human Health Issues CH 4 Connections, Panel Presentation Discussion: Social Aspects of Natural Gas Production Distribution at HARC on September 23, 2014 Adgate results from Colorado other studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional petroleum Joint EFD-SRN workshop Golden, Colorado August 15, 2014 Adgate Presented update on health studies in the context of the NSF funded Sustainability Research Network Oil Gas Development: Public Health the Environment Environmental Health Research Unconventional Oil Gas Extraction Shale Gas Development Public Health Research Near O&G Development Sites: Challenges Needs Hydraulic Fracturing Health: What We Know, Don t Know The Use of Health Impact Assessment in a Community Undergoing Gas Development Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, June 30, Public Webinars sponsored by NRDC, June 18/25/26, 2014 Martz Summer Conference, Getches Wilkinson Center, University of Colorado Law School, Boulder, CO, June 6, 2014 Society of Environmental Journalists McCormick Specialized Reporting Institute on Shale Gas Oil Development, June 23, 2014, Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA American Industrial Higiene Conferencie Expo (AIHce), June 3, 2014, San Antonio, TX Adgate Adgate Organized Symposium for a discussion of public health implications associated with oil gas development in Colorado made presentations The purpose of these webinars were to communicate research results to the public results from Colorado other studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional petroleum the state of the current science on this topic to environmental journalists results from Colorado other studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional petroleum 8

9 : Title Date Location Participant Summary Natural Gas Development & Public Health: What Do We Know/Not Know, What Do We Want to Learn? NSF Sustainability Research Network FrackingSense Series, Greeley, CO April 28, 2014 Adgate results from Colorado other studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional petroleum Gas Development Public Health: What do we know Panel Discussion: Fracking, Drilling, Other Environmental Health Concerns Human Health Risks Associated with Development of Gas Resources Setting the Stage: Evidence on Health British Columbia Lung Association 14 th Annual Meeting, Air Quality Health Impacts of Energy Resource Extraction, Processing, Transportation. Vancouver, BC, March 10, Health Journalism 2014, Denver CO, March 29, Impact of Gas Drilling Operations on the Environment Public Health. University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, February 18, 2014 Symposium on Oil Gas Development, Public Health the Environment. CSPH Center for Public Health Practice, Aurora, CO, June 30, Presentations Workshops 2015 Cumulative Risk Around Oil International Society for Exposure Gas Development Sites: Science, Henderson Nevada, Estimating Air Exposures October 20, 2015 Risks in the Denver Julesburg Basin Populations Neighboring Oil Gas Development in Colorado s Denver- Julesburg Basin A spatiotemporal industrial activity-based model for characterizing residential exposure to oil natural gas extraction in Colorado An exploratory analysis of BTEX in groundwater samples around oil gas wells in Colorado International Society for Exposure Science, Henderson Nevada, October 20, 2015 International Society for Exposure Science, Henderson Nevada, October 20, 2015 International Society for Exposure Science, Henderson Nevada, October 20, 2015 Adgate Adgate Adgate results from Colorado other studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional petroleum the state of the current science on this topic to health journalists results from Colorado studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional natural gas resources. Opening Plenary Presentation on the relation between Unconventional Oil Gas Development Public Health. factors to consider in evaluating cumulative risks around O&G sites population characteristics in setbacks around O&G wells a models for estimating exposures to emissions from O&G sites a model for estimating impacts to drinking water sources 9

10 : Title Date Location Participant Summary Community Engaged Research: Developing Partnerships for Assessing the Impacts of Oil Gas Development in Greeley Fort Collins, CO Society for Epidemiologic Research 48 th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, June 18 Adgate working with communities concerned with O&G development Workshop to discuss to the development of an Gas Development Health Registry Health Risks Associated with Development of Gas Resources: Colorado Studies Congenital Heart Defects Maternal Proximity to Oil Gas Development Health Risks Associated with Development of Gas Resources: Colorado Studies. Public Health Research Oil Gas Development May 4, 2015, Chicago, IL National Jewish Hospital, Denver Colorado, April 21, 2015 April 13, 2015 AirWaterGas Teacher Workshop, Boulder Colorado, March 7, Colorado Governor s Oil Gas Task Force, Greeley Colorado, January 15, 2015 Adgate Discussed the development of a public health registry for health practioners to log health effects in residents near O&G sites results from Colorado studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional natural gas resources. Public webinar series on Fracking, Natural Gas, Maternal Health sponsored by the Center for Environmental Health results from Colorado studies on health risks that may be associated with unconventional natural gas resources. Invited testimony on the public health impacts of oil gas development in Colorado Public Health Energy Development: What We Don t Know/ What We d Like to Know Rocky Mountain Academy of Occupational Environmental Medicine (RMAOEM) RMAOEM Conference: Fundamentals Current Topics in Occupational Environmental Medicine, Aurora, CO, January 30, Adgate the state of the current science on this topic to Occupational Medicine Physicians 10