EHN reporter discusses new proposed fracking regulations in Pennsylvania on "Living on Earth"

PITTSBURGH — EHN reporter Kristina Marusic joined NPR's "Living on Earth" to discuss whether newly proposed fracking regulations in Pennsylvania could improve transparency about the chemicals used by the industry.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced that he has directed regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania to draft new regulations that would improve the disclosure of the chemicals used during fracking, better control methane emissions, and create stronger protections related to waste products from fracking, among other new protections.

Marusic has previously reported on how the industry's methane emissions are higher than reported, and on how regulatory loopholes allow fracking companies to withhold information about what chemicals are used during the drilling process from both the public and regulators. Marusic's previous reporting has also revealed that families who live near fracking wells in Pennsylvania are being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals like benzene, toluene, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a.k.a. "forever chemicals").

"If people living near fracking wells start experiencing health issues, it's really important that they and their doctors know what chemicals they may have been exposed to when trying to figure out what's going on," Marusic said during the Living On Earth interview. "And it's important for regulators to know too, so that if there's suspected contamination, they know what to look for if they're testing water and soil."

The interview is available at Living on Earth, on Spotify, and below.