Date: November 12, 2024
To: Citizens Advisory Council
Subject: State Methane Plan
My name is Vanessa Lynch, and I am a Pennsylvania Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force. Moms Clean Air Force is a group of moms and dads united against air pollution—and the urgent crisis of our changing climate—to equitably protect children’s health. With around 1.4 million people in Pennsylvania living within a half mile of oil and gas infrastructure in the Commonwealth, the DEP has a large responsibility to enact robust methane safeguards to protect frontline families.
As a parent living with a fracked well pad in my community, I know firsthand the concern families feel over the exposure their children are facing from living near this industrial process. According to recent reports from the Environmental Defense Fund’s MethaneAir project, the Appalachian Basin has the second highest total emissions (167,000 kg/hr) in the nation, behind only the Permian Basin. The Appalachian Basin’s methane loss rate is 5 times higher than industry targets.
To strengthen the proposed methane state plan, the DEP should consider requiring quarterly instrument-based leak monitoring at all well sites, including separators in the list of items requiring instrument-based inspections, creating rapid compliance deadlines once the plan is adopted, establishing a no RULOF exemption policy, and supplementing the Super Emitter Program. Robust leak detection and quick repair could have a meaningful effect on the cumulative impacts frontline communities face.
The Super Emitter program represents one area in particular that could have lasting impacts for frontline communities. Since the EPA will receive super emitter notifications, the DEP should consider proactively establishing a state-wide notification system to inform families of these events in their community right away.
The notifications could include keeping up to date with reported super emitter events in and around Pennsylvania, posting updates on social media, educating community organizations that may be partnering with third-party notifiers, conducting outreach to impacted communities, and connecting impacted communities with health resources. Enhancing community engagement and transparency within the program by providing real-time data to affected communities could improve health and trust. Quickly and transparently addressing super emitter leaks is especially vital to protecting our children and environmental justice communities.
By strengthening the methane state plan and establishing a transparent Super Emitter program, families would be able to protect themselves from related health risks such as asthma exacerbation, preterm birth, heart disease and cancer.
I am thankful Governor Shapiro has identified the methane state plan as important to his administration. As a leader who intimately knows the difficulties frontline oil and gas families face, Governor Shapiro must embrace ambitious and durable action on these safeguards and on climate action. My children and family are depending on him.