PIPELINES: POTENTIAL RISKS & ADVERSE IMPACTS
RISKS & ADVERSE IMPACTS
It is our responsibility as stewards of the region to educate ourselves and be aware of how the Constitution Pipeline could affect the health of our lands and community – both in it’s construction and it’s long-term operational impacts. The Waterfall Center, as an educational resource, looks to provide factual information that addresses the concerns of the community, specifically around how a pipeline running through our bioregion could bring with it adverse effects to both human and natural communities.
Fracked gas pipelines can introduce significant risks in communities, including the potential for explosions, fires, toxic leaks, greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term health hazards like respiratory illnesses. Below, we outline some of the potential risks and adverse impacts a pipeline running through the bioregion could have, and share links to various resources and studies.
GENERAL RISKS OF FRACKED GAS PIPELINES & TRANSFER STATIONS
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Fires & Explosions
The most immediate risk is the ignition of leaking natural gas, which can cause catastrophic, high-fatality incidents and property destruction.
Methane Emissions
Pipelines and transfer stations can leak, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is up to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
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Contamination
Leaks can devastate local ecosystems, contaminating groundwater, soil, and waterways.
Human Health
Natural gas pipelines pose significant human health risks, primarily through leaks of hazardous air pollutants (benzene, methane)
RISKS SPECIFIC TO RURAL COMMUNITIES
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Landslide and Geohazard Vulnerability: In mountainous areas, pipelines are often routed through steep, landslide-prone terrain, increasing the risk of pipe rupture during soil movement.
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Delayed Emergency Response: Due to low population density and remote locations, it may take emergency services longer to arrive at the scene of a pipeline disaster.
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Water Supply Contamination: Rural areas often rely on private well water. Pipeline leaks can contaminate these sole-source aquifers, as seen in cases with high levels of lead and other heavy metals.
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High-Pressure "Blast Zones": New, larger pipelines are often installed in rural areas with minimal safety oversight, with blast zones that can extend across vast areas.
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Compressor Station Impacts: Compressor stations, which are required to maintain pressure, are frequently placed in rural areas and emit pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that degrade local air quality.
COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPACTS
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Respiratory Issues and Toxins: Leaks can release hazardous air pollutants, including benzene (a carcinogen) and formaldehyde, along with ozone-producing chemicals, which aggravate asthma and other respiratory issues.
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Psychological and Economic Stress: The construction and presence of pipelines can disrupt rural communities, leading to a loss of "sense of place," reduced property values, and increased stress related to potential disasters.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Health and Safety Risks of Pipelines - Environmental Health Project
Community Health Impacts From Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor Stations - AGU, GeoHealth
Kinder Morgan Natural Gas-Fueled Explosion - National Transportation Safety Board
Natural Gas Gathering and Transmission Pipelines and Social Vulnerability in the United States - AGU, GeoHealth
Methane Emissions From Gas Pipeline Leaks - Environmental Defense Fund
Pipeline Right-of-Ways: Making the Connection between Forest Fragmentation and the Spread of Lyme Disease in Southwestern Pennsylvania - FracTracker Alliance
Pipeline Incident 20 Year Trends - USDT Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Pipeline installation effects on soils and plants: A review and quantitative synthesis - Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment​
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