TENORM Poses Little Threat to Public and Workers, PA DEP Report Says

There is little potential for harm to workers or the public from radiation exposure due to oil and gas development, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection concluded in a report released late last week concerning the effects of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) within the state. With the increase of fracking in the Marcellus Shale, Pennsylvania has seen a dramatic increase in the amounts of TENORM needed for disposal in the last decade. This report, called for by outgoing Gov. Tom Corbett (R) in early 2013, found that the development, completion, production, transmission, processing, storage, and end use of natural gas did not pose a threat to the public, but it did recommend further studies into potential problems at waste processing facilities. “The study report is the culmination of a multi-year effort and represents what we believe to be the most comprehensive radiological study of the oil and gas industry ever conducted,” Vince Brisini, DEP Deputy Secretary for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation said in a statement. “While the recommendations for future actions contained in the report call for additional studies and efforts, we now have data to inform the management of natural gas resources and resultant wastes for environmental and health protection.”