WORKSHOP ON THE HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF NEW ENERGY SOURCES: SHALE GAS EXTRACTION (Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine. Washington, 30 April - 1 May 2012)

This workshop will focus on shale gas extraction to explore the health impacts of emerging energy technologies and the use of health impact assessments to assess and identify ways to mitigate potential health impacts. Through presentations and discussions, it is expected that Roundtable members, scientists, decision makers, and other participants will become better informed on the potential health impacts of hydrofracking, be updated on the learn lessons from ongoing health impacts assessments, and be better positioned to consider safeguards to protect the public's health from emerging energy and other technologies.

This workshop is one in a series of workshops sponsored by the Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine. The Roundtable was established in 1998 to provide a mechanism for parties from the academic, industrial, and federal research perspectives to meet and discuss sensitive and difficult environmental health issues in a neutral scientific setting.

<b>Presentations:</b>

- Saving Lives. Protecting People. Saving Money Through Prevention. Christopher Portier, Director National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

- Hydraulic Fracturing: Accessing Shale and Tight Gas. David Cole, Shell Upstream Americas.

- Health Impact Assessment for Shale Gas Extraction. Aaron Wernham, Health Impact Project.

- Setting the Stage for Health: Why Fracking, Why Now?: Identifying Key Issues That Are Unique And Potential Priorities. Linda A. McCauley, Emory University.

- The Geographic Footprint. Michael Focazio, U.S. Geological Survey.

- ANIOSH Field Effort to Assess Chemical Exposures in Oil and Gas Workers. Eric J. Esswein, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

- Community Impacts of Natural Gas Development and Human Health. Roxana Witter, Environmental and Occupational Health Colorado School of Public Health.

- Economic and Community Impacts of Gas Shale in Pennsylvania. Timothy Kelsey, The Pennsylvania State University.

- Potential Air Quality Impacts of the Development and Production of Marcellus Shale Gas. Allen Robinson, Carnegie Mellon University.

- Air Quality Impacts of Natural Gas Operations in Texas. Michael Honeycutt, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

- Air Pollution Exposure and Risk Near Unconventional Natural Gas Drill Sites: An Example in Garfield County, Colorado. John Adgate, Colorado School of Public Health.

- Air Respondent. The prevention of health research related to unconventional gas drilling. Bernie Goldstein, University of Pittsburgh.

- Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Water Resources. Deborah L. Swackhamer, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

- EPA Study Plan on the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Approach to Study Potential Health Impacts. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

- Sustainable Energy For All: Ensuring Health I. Steven Hamburg, Environmental Defense Fund.

- Sustainable Energy For All: Ensuring Health throughout the Energy Production and Use Life Cycle. Daniel S. Greenbaum, Health Effects Institute.

- Panel I: Research Community. Productive natural gas wells in the Marcellus shale. David Carey, Geisinger Health Center.

- Panel I: Research Community. Shell Onshore Tight Sand/Shale Oil Gas Operating Principles. Rob Donnelly, Shell Oil Company.

- Panel I: Research Community. Research Community Panel. Roxana Witter, Colorado School of Public Health.

- Panel II: Federal Representatives. Health Impact Assessment of New Energy Sources: Shale Gas Extraction. Suzette Kimball, United States Geological Survey - Water and Science Department of the Interior.