As a kid I played outside in the woods or at the beach most days, followed trails, climbed cliffs and went fishing. Before NRDC I worked in the private sector as well as in the offices of elected officials in county, state and federal government. In 2001 I joined NRDC’s Land and Wildlife Program. Now I work to protect the environment. NRDC is dedicated to protecting our nation’s wildest places and most valuable wildlife habitat from irresponsible industrial development. I've worked to protect old growth forests in Alaska and other western states. Now my work is focused on protecting sensitive lands in the Rocky Mountain region from harmful oil and gas operations, and on advancing public policies to require more environmental protections for oil and gas operations
Posted January 18, 2012 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
I just learned from a news article that, in 2008, two families in Medina County, Ohio, reported that their drinking water became contaminated after nearby natural gas drilling and fracking. After the fracking, their water smelled and tasted bad, bubbled, became...continued→
Posted January 16, 2012 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
Last week I mentioned a new peer-reviewed paper on the "Impacts of Gas Drilling on Human and Animal Health." It has now been posted on the web. This groundbreaking article details 24 cases of animal and owner health problems with potential links to...continued→
Posted January 12, 2012 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
A new article on the topic of the health concerns surrounding natural gas production has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication in Environmental Health Perspectives, a monthly journal published by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The authors of the article found...continued→
Posted January 11, 2012 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
Over the last few days there has been a lot of news related to the human health impacts of oil and gas production. In Erie, Colorado (in the Denver area), moms are complaining about family health symptoms that they think are related...continued→
Posted January 6, 2012 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
We've all heard about efforts to protect New York City's watershed from the risks of hydraulic fracturing. Now there is a new effort to protect NYC's foodshed. Chefs for the Marcellus is a group of chefs, restaurateurs, and other food professionals dedicated to...continued→
Posted January 5, 2012 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
The nation's top environmental health expert has elaborated on his views that we need more research on the impacts of natural gas drilling on human health and the environment. In a recent e-mail, Dr. Christopher Portier wrote: "Studies should include all the ways people...continued→
Posted December 29, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
We've blogged before about how oil and gas leases can put mortgages, title insurance, and homeowners insurance at risk. Journalists are conducting groundbreaking investigations and reporting on these topics. Among the most important findings in recent reports: The New York Times...continued→
Posted December 27, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
With the void of federal protection from toxic oil and gas waste, states can and should create better rules. As I mentioned in a recent blog post, a new West Virginia law takes one tiny step in that direction. From now...continued→
Posted December 22, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
The National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) includes members of the general public, state and local agencies, and private groups concerned with safe drinking water. It advises the EPA Administrator on everything relating to drinking water and the Safe Drinking Water...continued→
Posted December 20, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
This guest blog was researched and written by NRDC Legal Fellow Matthew McFeeley, and updated on December 22 with a clarification: Recent developments in our natural gas system have shown serious gaps in the country's pipeline safety standards. Although, in...continued→
Posted December 19, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
Updated: December 19, 2011 NRDC supports federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing under the Safe Drinking Water Act. We believe this is a sensible approach that would ensure a minimum federal floor of drinking water protection in the more than 30 states where...continued→
Posted December 19, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
I recommend a very informative interview with Karlis Muehlenbachs, a professor of geochemistry at the University of Alberta who has researched contamination of groundwater by natural gas. Dr. Muehlenbachs states: "The shale gas boom combined with hydraulic fracking will cause wellbores to...continued→
Posted December 16, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
Earlier this week the West Virginia legislature passed a bill to create some new rules for natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale. It's a perfect example of the vicious cycle we have seen around the country -- residents complain about...continued→
Posted December 14, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
This post was researched and written by NRDC Legal Fellow Matthew McFeeley: Guess what? There is another loophole for the oil and gas industry in a federal environmental law. As NRDC has reported before, over the years the industry has persuaded...continued→
Posted December 12, 2011 by Amy Mall in Health and the Environment
Howard Clark is a mineral owner in Marion County, West Virginia who writes: "Although I am an avid supporter of the use of our natural resources, it must be done in an environmentally responsible manner." He is concerned about the lack...continued→
Switchboard is the staff blog of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the nation’s most effective environmental group. For more about our work, including in-depth policy documents, action alerts and ways you can contribute, visit NRDC.org.
