HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-28 Board of Health Supplemental Materials (4) April 5,2017
K&AHIB
Dear Board of Health Members:
Attached please find a letter for Boards of Health to consider signing about interstate gas
pipelines. MAHB is partnering with the Sierra Club in this outreach. If you wish to participate,
please sign and return to Emily Norton, at the email address below.
During the past few years,two new interstate gas pipelines were proposed to be built in
Massachusetts. One, Northeast Energy Direct, was cancelled.The other proposed pipeline,
Access Northeast, has been stalled after the MA Supreme Judicial Court ruled that state law
does not allow a tariff to be imposed on electric bills to pay for new interstate gas pipelines.
New projects continue to be built or proposed however:the Metering and Regulating station in
West Roxbury; expansions of existing infrastructure in Acushnet; and compressor stations in
Rehoboth and Weymouth.
The negative health impacts associated with high pressure fracked gas infrastructure (FGI) are
well documented.
Health risks of FGI include asthma and heart disease from particulate matter, neurologic disease
and miscarriage due to heavy metals, and cancer due to carcinogens such as benzene and
radioactive radon and lead. These health consequences are a hazard for the communities that
abut the FGI, but also, due to meteorologic effects,for more distant communities, particularly
due to leaks in our aging pipeline infrastructure.
Health risks posed by FGI directly undermine the stated goals of our Massachusetts Department
of Public Health: combatting health disparities, promoting health,and targeting programs for
the best utilization of resources. Pipeline infrastructure exacerbates health disparities,
potentially creates considerable negative health impacts, and diverts scarce public health
resources because of the illnesses they create.
There is concern the Baker Administration will propose a change in law or regulation in order to
enable new natural gas pipelines or otherwise encourage pipeline companies to bring new
interstate gas pipelines to Massachusetts.That is why a strong showing from Boards of Health
on a letter urging support for clean renewable energy rather than more fossil fuel infrastructure
is so important.
It would be ideal if you could take up a discussion of whether to sign on at your next Board
meeting. s
l
Sign on Letter to Governor Baker
Dear Governor Baker:
We write to you as Boards of Health from communities across Massachusetts who are
committed to protecting the health, welfare,and safety of the residents of the Commonwealth.
We commend Massachusetts' Health Commissioner Monica Bharel's goals to combat health
disparities, promote health, and make the best use of our resources in that endeavor.
We are concerned that the rush to develop fracked gas infrastructure (FGI) in our state is in
direct conflict with those goals: it increases health disparities,worsens public health and makes
poor use of our health care resources by potentially creating public health problems instead of
preventing them.
The health concerns surrounding FGI are several.While it is widely recognized that gas
extraction via the hydraulic fracturing process causes health problems due to air and water
pollution where the drilling is done, many people are not aware that the toxins and carcinogens
that travel with the gas when it is extracted from the earth's crust can be emitted when there
are releases of gas, unintentional or intentional, anywhere along the pipeline infrastructure.
These substances, acknowledged by Spectra and other gas companies in their reports, include
hazardous air pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde, particulate matter, radioactive
elements like radon, and heavy metals including mercury, lead and chromium.These toxins pose
a health risk as they can potentially cause cancers like leukemia, lung problems like asthma and
lung cancer, heart deformities in babies, miscarriages, and neurologic disease.
Natural gas pipelines pose threats to human health and to the environment at every stage of
processing and delivery including interstate transmission pipelines, distribution pipelines,
storage facilities, metering and regulating stations, compressor stations, and liquefied natural
gas facilities.Without comprehensive health impact assessments of the effects of these toxins
and carcinogens, it is impossible to know the magnitude of risk that these pollutants pose to
human health.
New FGI in our state also threatens public health because it is a driver of climate change,
releasing significant amounts of methane, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. New interstate
pipelines add significant amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, exacerbating climate
change. Climate change is disrupting our state's natural ecosystems and built infrastructure and
negatively impacting human health, and is leading to increased rates of infectious diseases and
cancer.
FGI also threaten public health and safety due to leaks,water contamination, and explosions;
accidents have increased five-fold across the United States between the years 2000 and 2010.
Governor Charles Baker
Massachusetts State House
Office of the Governor
Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Governor Baker:
The Board of Health joins other Massachusetts Boards of Health in urging you to
require an independent and comprehensive health impact assessment prior to authorization of
any new natural gas infrastructure, including, pipelines, corepressor stations, and storage
facilities in the Commonwealth.
We have adapted the excellent letter to you from the Amherst Board of Health, dated October
12, 2017.
Natural gas transmitted in pipelines contains contaminants that can cause human illnesses even
at low concentrations. These contaminants include benzene and other volatile organics, heavy
metals, formaldehyde, and small particulate matter, as acknowledged by pipeline companies in
permit applications'. Ideally, pipeline gas and its contaminants would be perfectly contained,
and there would be no illness risk to people living near pipelines and compressor stations. In
fact, however, releases of pipeline contents are well-documented2. Inadvertent release occurs
via equipment failures, "fugitive" gas leaks, and accidents and explosions3. In addition to
inadvertent releases, maintaining the transmission infrastructure requires regular, deliberate
venting of compressors (blowdowns), which expel significant quantities of gas plus
contaminants into the environment around compressor stations".
Preliminary studies have linked gas transmission infrastructure to adverse health effects on
people living nearby5.6, but better data are needed on actual toxin levels near pipeline
infrastructure and on their health impacts. Since releases containing toxic chemicals definitely
do occur, it is not prudent to authorize new pipeline construction until pollutant levels have
been measured over time and at different distances from existing pipelines, and health
registries have been established and the results studied to allow valid assessments of the health
of people living near gas infrastructure. Perhaps actual health risks will turn out to be so low as
to be deemed acceptable if the pipeline delivers gas needed in the community under conditions
where renewable energy sources are currently insufficient. However, if the pipelines main
purpose is to export gas, as is the case for some pipelines proposed in Massachusetts, it is
difficult to imagine a legitimate justification for subjecting local residents even to very low
levels of health risk.
Existing pipelines, and any new ones that may be built however inadvisably, must be subject to
regulation. At the national level, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has a history of
favoring the fossil fuel industry rather than the public interest.This is perhaps not surprising
Page 1— Draft letter to Governor Baker
References
1 e.g. Spectra Energy Partners, Atlantic Bridge Project, Resource Report 9. Algonquin Gas
Transmission LLC Weymouth Compressor Station Permit Application,Table B1A1. Cited by
NordgaardC, (2O15)
2Allen, DTEmissions from oil and gas operations inthe United States and their air quality
implications.Journal nfthe Air& Waste Management Association 66: 549-575 /2O16\.
3Pipo|ine and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (U.S. Department oFTransportation>,
serious incidents (injury or death, or large accidental releases or fires or explosions); search
limited to onshore gas transportation incidents: in the 10 years 2007 through 2016, in the U. S.
there were 579 incidents resulting in 22 fatalities, 112 injuries requiring hospitalization, and
over $1billion inproperty damage,
4 K|oczko, N. A Brief Review ofCompressor Stations. Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental
Health Project, (2815).
5S1einzorN, SubraVV, 5urni L. Investigating links between shale gas development and health
impacts through ncommunity survey project |nPmnnsy|vanio. Nem/Jm/ubnns:A}ouono/nf
Environmental and Occupational Health Policy 23: 55-83 /2O13\
6 Anderson AR. Health effects of cut gas lines and other petroleum product release incidents'
seven states. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 64: 601'605 /2015\
7 "The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) recovers the full cost
of its operations through annual charges and filing fees assessed on the industries it regulates ...
resulting in a net appropriation of zero."
8Arnerican Medical Association H-13S.93OProtecting public health from natural gas
infrastructure, Resolution 519, A-l5 /2015\.
8 Massachusetts Medical Society. Natural gas policy adopted byHouse p[Delegates,April 29,
2Ql7. Page 3U, .
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Page 3— Draft letter toGovernor Baker
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Health risks of methane "natural" gas infrastructure
We ask the North Andover Board of Health to consider:
• the health risks of in-home use of methane "natural" gas in
gas stoves and of natural gas infrastructure (pipelines,
compressors, and storage facilities) in Massachusetts and
• based on those risks, writing to the Governor asking him to
require Comprehensive Health Impact Assessments (CHIA)
evaluating the health risks of any new or expanded
natural gas infrastructure projects be completed before a
project is approved. CHIAs will provide the Board with
information about the risks of "natural" gas to the citizens of
North Andover.
The human health risks of natural gas infrastructure include:
1) Toxic contaminants in natural gas
carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde
heavy metals like lead and mercury
radioactive elements like radon and radioactive
lead
2) Damage caused by fires and explosions
3) Contribution to air pollution and lung disease from burning
"natural" gas and from gas releases (e.g., from gas leaks)
Letterhead here
Date
The State House
24 Beacon Street
Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
Attention: Governor's Office
Dean Governor Baker,
The Board of Health joins other local health boards in urging you to
require an independent health impact assessment prior to authorization of any
natural gas infrastructure project in the Commonwealth.
Natural gas flowing through pipelines contains volatile contaminants, such as
benzene and formaldehyde, which can cause human illnesses, even at low
concentrations. Releases are routine, whether from leaks or maintenance. The
Commonwealth has an obligation to protect the health of its citizens, yet, the
potential health effects of natural gas pipelines are not being examined.
More effective regulation of existing natural gas pipelines to minimize adverse
health effects is needed. In addition, health impact assessments should be required
before any new pipeline authorization occurs. This perspective is shared by
national health organizations, including the American Medical Association:
"Our AMA recognizes the potential impact on human health associated with
natural gas infrastructure and supports legislation that would require a
comprehensive Health Impact Assessment regarding the risks that may be
associated with natural gas pipelines." (Resolution H-135.930)
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) has adopted the following policies:
1. That the MMS recognizes the potential impact on human health associated
with natural gas infrastructure. (HP)
Page 8 of 19
1 ADOPTED AS AMENDED
2
3 Item#: 8
4 Code: Resolution A-17 A-105
5 Title: Protecting Public Health from Natural Gas Infrastructure in
6 Massachusetts
7 Sponsors: Brita Lundberg, MD
8 Krupa Patel, MD
9 Susan Racine, MD
10
11 Referred to: Reference Committee A
12 Kevin O'Callaghan, MD, Chair
13
14 HOUSE VOTE:
15
16 Referred to: (Item 1): MMS Policy Compendium
17 (Item 2): Committee on Legislation (and MMS Policy
18 Compendium)
19
20 Informational Report: (Item 2): A-18
21 Strategic Priority: Sustainable Health Care Delivery
22
23 1. That the MMS adopt the following adapted from AMA policy:
24
25 That the MMS recognizes the potential impact on human health associated with
26 natural gas infrastructure.(HP)
27
28 2. That the MMS advocate to appropriate agencies and the Massachusetts state
29 legislature to require ongoing independent Comprehensive Health Impact
30 Assessments to assess the human health risks of all existing and proposed new or
31 expanded natural gas infrastructure in Massachusetts. (D)
32
33 Fiscal Note: No Significant Impact
34 (Out-of-Pocket Expenses)
35
36 FTE: Existing Staff
37 (Staff Effort to Complete Project)