508 Disclosure of Environmental Changes Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing (E)

 Submitted by:       American Association of Public Health Physicians

 WHEREAS “fracking”, meaning “high-volume hydraulic fracturing”, is the technique used for petroleum oil and natural gas extraction that involves injecting millions of gallons of mud, water, and chemicals into the earth to fracture underground rock, allowing fossil fuels to be released for pumping to the surface, potentially leaving large volumes of polluted water and chemicals underground, plus air pollution affecting nearby communities; and

WHEREAS in parts of the 20 U.S. States where hydraulic fracturing has occurred, including Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and Florida, there have been numerous complaints of possible contamination of drinking water with methane, neurotoxins, radon and suspected carcinogens used in the hydraulic fracturing process and found in flowback fluids, which may pose significant risks to public health; and

WHEREAS part of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 was amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to exclude drinking water quality from Federal jurisdiction, leaving it to the individual States to create laws and regulations of their own, and therefore this public health topic would best be addressed with a combination of local, state and national laws and regulations; and

WHEREAS most US States do not require drilling companies to disclose to the public what chemicals are injected underground and in many cases physicians, public health officials and patients are prevented from discussing specific chemical exposures (“gag orders”), making it difficult for doctors to monitor, advise, or treat their patients based upon sound science; and

WHEREAS in the past, the inability of physicians to have access to environmental exposure data, as in the examples of asbestos, lead, mercury, dioxins, tobacco and petroleum emissions, led to delays in diagnosis and treatment, with millions of Americans suffering as a result; therefore be it

RESOLVED that our AMA will endorse legislation and regulations that require the full disclose of chemicals placed into the natural environment for petroleum, oil and natural gas exploration & extraction, (New HOD Policy) (Directive to Take Action);  and be it further

RESOLVED, That the AMA will endorse legislation and regulations that require government agencies to record and monitor the chemicals placed into the natural environment for petroleum oil and natural gas extraction and the chemicals found in flowback fluids, to monitor for human exposures in well water and surface water, and to share this information with physicians and the public (New HOD Policy) (Directive to Take Action).

RELEVANT AMA POLICY

H-135.931 The Health Risks of Hydraulic Fracturing

Our AMA encourages appropriate agencies and organizations to study the potential human and environmental health risks and impacts of hydraulic fracturing. (Res. 405, A-13)

[Submitters acknowledge the Florida Medical Association’s important role in developing this topic and much of the wording above.  AAPHP’s national perspective shows that, in most of the country, the “flowback fluids” associated with high-pressure hydrocarbon exploration appear to pose greater health risks than the “fracking” chemicals themselves.  After consultation with Florida representatives, AAPHP is submitting this amended version of Florida’s resolution, with mention of flowback fluids in the second WHEREAS and in the second RESOLVED.  Thanks to our Florida colleagues for their gracious collaboration!]