The Vulnerabilities of Environmental Vulnerability Analysis: Evidence from Hydraulic Fracturing Wasteflows in Pennsylvania
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Keywords: environmental justice, hydraulic fracturing, waste, energy geography
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract
Authors:
Jennifer Baka, Penn State
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Abstract
We evaluate the relationship between hydraulic fracturing (HF) wastes and environmental justice (EJ). We use well-level waste production and disposal data (n=12,719 wells) for 2010-2022, compiled by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania EJ Area definition and the Social Vulnerability Index as proxies for EJ. We situate our findings within the geographies of waste and EJ literature to critique the vulnerabilities and (in)visibilities of the data and existing EJ proxies. The data provides a partial view of waste flows as the final destinations for over 38% of wastes by volume is unknown. Using the data for which waste destinations are known, we conduct both a rankings-based and risk-based analysis of the relationship between HF wastes and vulnerability to facilitate both cross-comparisons and place-based understandings of the tradeoffs of HF wasteflows. For the rankings-based analysis, we find that vulnerability decreased in HF waste-receiving Census tracts, under certain econometric model specifications. The risk-based analysis illustrates that large volumes of HF wastes are handled in regions containing high populations and significant hydrological and ecological features, in addition to other HF well pads and waste facilities. Our study underscores the importance of evaluating vulnerability through an intersectional approach, focusing on cumulative impacts.
The Vulnerabilities of Environmental Vulnerability Analysis: Evidence from Hydraulic Fracturing Wasteflows in Pennsylvania
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Paper Abstract