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Fracking News

Barnett Shale Not Alone. Radioactive Drilling Waste in Marcellus Shale

December 7, 2009 By TXsharon

We, in the Barnett Shale, are not sitting alone in our toxic and radioactive drilling waste.

Tests show high concentration of radioactive waste in Marcellus

An analysis of wastewater samples by the Department of Health found levels of radium-226, and related alpha and beta radiation that are up to 10,000 times higher than drinking water standards, according to a memo the agency sent to the Department of Environmental

They like to call it NORM or Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, which makes it sound harmless. NORM is actually a bone-seeking carcinogen with a 1622 year half-life.

Three samples tested ranged from 14,530 to 123,000 picocuries of radiation per liter. The federal limit for radiation in public drinking water is 15.

That’s a lot of “natural.” All that natural NORM is already in Barnett Shale drinking water and other areas of Texas where drilling occurs. Aw well, blue is a good color for me.

Read more about NORM/Radioactive Drilling Waste

About Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.

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Filed Under: NORM Radioactive Waste

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    December 8, 2009 at 12:28 am

    "Natural" radiation, whether from radium or radon, is dangerous.

  2. yoko says

    December 10, 2009 at 2:11 am

    this is a question-can you tell me where they did this test? was it in Dimock?

  3. TXsharon says

    December 10, 2009 at 2:14 am

    This was in Texas but the Marcellus Shale which is in Dimock also has radioactive waste.

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