DEP to investigate Ten Mile Creek for radioactivity.

[drm604]

http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20150605/NEWS01/150609733

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will investigate whether there are radioactive materials in Ten Mile Creek, a major tributary of the Monongahela River in Greene and Washington counties.
...
The 2014 results showed combined levels of radium-226 and radium-228 in the creek water downstream of the abandoned Clyde Mine discharge in East Bethlehem Township at nearly 19 times higher than what federal drinking water standards allow, 65 times higher upstream and 60 times higher in the water coming directly out of the mine discharge.
...
In 2013, Vengosh and other scientists discovered radium in Blacklick Creek, in Indiana County. They found radium levels were 200 times greater at a discharge point of a facility that treated Marcellus gas wastewater than in sediments upstream from the site.

In the study, the scientists were able to determine markers that indicated the chemicals came from fracking operations. Vengosh said that’s what his team will look for with these streams and mine outfalls.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. You had to read far down in that article

to find that they are pointing the finger at fracking. When they discuss mine discharge from an abandoned mine, it takes your mind off of fracking.

We are going to be left with a terrible legacy when these frackers leave, and sadly, we are not being paid enough to afford to deal with the aftermath....even if there is enough to deal with it.

[drm604]

2. Unfortunately, PA already has many aftermaths that we'll end up paying for one way or another.

There are many environmental problems, and time bombs, left by mining companies that ceased to exist decades ago.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I know, which is why you think we would have learned.

I am amazed that the people who have seen the terrible record of environmental atrocities by the mining industry do not realize that this is going to happen again with fracking. To say that they have their heads in the sand would be complimentary to them.

[drm604]

4. The most obvious example:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia_mine_fire