Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
1/23/2015
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.”
In terms of waste processing and disposal, the report found that there is little potential for radiation exposure to the public and workers. But the report did say that some risks should be looked at further. On TENORM processing facilities, the report said, “However, there are potential radiological environmental impacts that should be studied at all facilities in Pennsylvania that treat wastes to determine if any areas require remediation. If elevated radiological impacts are found, the development of radiological discharge limitations and spill policies should be considered.” The report also concluded on TENORM landfill disposal, “However, filter cake from facilities treating wastes could have a radiological environmental impact if spilled, and there is also a potential long-term disposal issue. TENORM disposal protocols should be reviewed to ensure the safety of long-term disposal of waste containing TENORM.”
Report Does Not Alter Disposal Regulations
While public and worker health is confirmed in the report, the study did not make any recommendations on changes to Pennsylvania regulations on TENORM disposal in the state’s landfills. Prior to the fracking boom, Pennsylvania landfills, under a blanket exemption, could take certain volumes and concentrations of NORM material on an annual basis. The regulations worked for pre-fracking disposal, but with the increased waste, the landfills are filled almost immediately. The gas companies then must ship the material out-of-state for disposal.
According to PA DEP spokesman Eric Shirk, the DEP does not have solid plans to change the regulations, but it is not opposed to looking at them in the future. “At this time, there are no solid plans, but certainly, any information we receive as people look over this is taken into advisement,” Shirk said. “We obviously want to do the right thing. We want to make sure that this is done as safely as possible, so it certainly is something that will be continued to looked at.”
Fracking Boom Causing Increased TENORM Volumes
The increased activity in oil and gas exploration, especially in the Marcellus Shale and Bakkan Shale formations, has increased volumes of TENORM in states where that type of waste did not regularly occur. Radioactive contaminants like uranium, thorium, and radium naturally occur within the earth, and the fracking process exposes that material to drill tailings and water, among other things, and brings it to the surface. States like Pennsylvania and North Dakota have undertaken studies to better address the waste stream by looking at how the states’ landfills could handle the increased radiation levels, especially to avoid illegal dumping.
North Dakota introduced proposed rule changes last month that would allow for more disposal of TENORM in the state’s landfills. The proposed rule change would increase the radiation level allowed per year from 5 picocuries per gram of material to 50 picocuries, which would allow for more in-state disposal compared to producers transporting the waste out of-state at high costs. The changes also require TENORM producers to register with the state’s Department of Health while also requiring the waste be tracked from production to disposal. Landfills could accept up to 25,000 tons of waste per year from North Dakota as well as from out-of-state producers.
