Should solid waste from shale gas development be regulated as hazardous waste?

• Published in: Energy policy 2019-06, Vol.129, p.1020-1033
• Main Authors: Swiedler, Elaine W., Muehlenbachs, Lucija A., Chu, Ziyan, Shih, Jhih-Shyang, Krupnick, Alan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemicals; Classification; Conservation; Energy policy; Environmental protection; Environmental regulations; Exemption; Extraction; Gas wells; Government regulations; Hazardous wastes; Health problems; Hydraulic fracturing; Landfills; Natural gas exploration; Oil and gas; Oil and gas fields; Organic chemistry; Petroleum; Radiation; Radium; Radium 226; RCRA; Regulation; Rehabilitation; Resource conservation; Shale; Shale gas; Ships; Solid waste; Solid wastes; Toxic wastes; Toxicity; Waste management; Waste management industry
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.02.016

In 1980, solid waste from oil and gas fields was exempt from US federal hazardous waste regulations (according to the US Environmental Protection Agency's Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, RCRA). However, recent developments in oil and gas extraction from deep shale formations warrant a closer look at this exemption. We obtained lab reports submitted to state regulators to characterize the solid waste generated from 231 shale gas wells in Pennsylvania. Of the 40 chemicals listed as toxic in RCRA, eight were present in our samples and two exceeded RCRA toxicity limits for classification as a hazardous waste (Ba and Cr). We also found overlap with chemicals listed in international lists of toxicity, suggesting that these wastes could pose health problems that would not be regulated by RCRA. Radiation in solid waste is regulated at the state-level; the maximum detected concentrations of radium-226 and radium-228 (51 picocuries/g and 8.87 picocuries/g, respectively) exceed the regulatory limits for landfills in Ohio and New York, however it is common practice to ship waste across state lines. Removing the RCRA oil and gas exemption would increase testing and reporting burdens but would leave most shale waste management practices unchanged while protecting against some hazardous outliers. •Characterized lab reports of solid waste from 231 shale gas wells in Pennsylvania.•Examined implications of removing the oil and gas exemption in RCRA.•Predict most shale waste management practices would remain unchanged.•Would protect against some hazardous outliers.