VERNAL, Utah — Estonian company Enefit American Oil for years has been eyeing northeastern Utah for what would be the largest oil shale operation in the country. Among those opposed to the prospect are doctors, who say the project poses major public health threats.
The project is planned for 30,000 acres of land in Uintah County. The land is privately owned, but the project requires Bureau of Land Management approval for a utility corridor to connect the site with water and electricity, which the BLM is on track to grant.
Several groups are speaking out, saying the BLM has failed to fully consider the impacts of oil operations. Dr. Brian Moench, board president of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, said emissions from oil development are disastrous for health.
"Hundreds of studies have documented the toxicity of those kinds of chemicals,” Moench said. “And the toxicity ranges from birth defects to cancer to chronic adult diseases, autoimmune disorders and things like that."
Enefit American Oil says its project will be safe, environmentally sound, and will create jobs. Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, along with other groups, sent a 44-page letter to the BLM last week citing numerous studies to counter the oil company's environmental and health claims.
The Uintah Basin already has a lot of oil and gas production, and a 2013 study from the University of Colorado documented huge spikes in air pollution in the region. Researchers noted that at certain times, the rural area saw ozone pollution as much as three-times higher than what might be seen in Manhattan.
Moench said that should be a red flag.
"We have absolute proof that, in fact, there is a pollution nightmare already in the area. We have proof that it's caused by the oil and gas industry,” he said. “Any sort of new arm of the oil and gas industry is likely to make that even worse."
Moench said his organization became concerned about the Uintah Basin after several stillbirths and infant deaths there in 2012 and 2013. A 2015 Utah Department of Health study of Adverse Birth Outcomes in the area placed more emphasis on maternal behavior than environmental factors, but noted the findings were based on a small statistical sample.
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A health care workforce shortage in New Hampshire is leaving Alzheimer's patients and their families with few options for treatment.
Patients facing a possible diagnosis are having to wait more than six-months to see a neurologist and are often forced to travel long distances.
Melissa Grenier, regional manager for the Alzheimer's Association of New Hampshire, said while patients wait, the disease progresses and families feel the financial and emotional strain.
"We want people to have the earliest and the most accurate diagnosis possible so that they can implement the best treatments," Grenier urged. "They can plan for the future."
New Hampshire has the most job openings in health care per capita and will need a more than 100% increase in geriatricians to meet demand by 2050.
Grenier pointed out 26,000 people in the state live with Alzheimer's disease and the number will grow to 32,000 next year.
State lawmakers are considering a bill to help build the pipeline of health care workers needed for what has been dubbed the "silver tsunami" of Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Senate Bill 403 would create a rural residency program, expand student loan repayments for medical workers and help expose more students to health care careers.
For now, Grenier noted the state has just 10 respite care facilities for people with Alzheimer's and demand is growing.
"I do not think that New Hampshire has the infrastructure to support our aging population and our growing population of people with memory impairment," Grenier asserted. "And subsequently, the number of people caring for those folks."
Grenier emphasized respite centers offer families a more affordable option compared to home health services, but those living in the state's lakes region or north country have even fewer options. She added people often call the Alzheimer's Association 24-hour hotline looking for advice on the difficult health care decisions they face each day.
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Summer will be here before you know it, and experts say now is the time to get prepared for Arizona's scorching and life-threatening temperatures.
Some 645 heat-associated deaths were confirmed by Maricopa County's Department of Public Health in 2023, breaking the previous year's record by more than 50%.
Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, the health department's medical director, said the 2023 Heat Related Deaths Report demonstrates this is a significant public health concern for Arizona's most populous county.
"This is really a call to action," she said, "to make sure that we all come together across the county - community-based organizations, cities, the county government - to prevent these deaths almost all of which are preventable."
In 2023, an average of 13 heat related deaths per day occurred during July, with people who were unhoused making up the largest proportion. With hotter months on the way, Sunenshine encouraged Arizonans to check on neighbors and seniors who may live alone, make sure air conditioning systems are working and follow the county's "10 tips" to stay safe in the heat.
In addition to tracking heat-related deaths, the Department of Public Health also conducted an evaluation of cooling and respite centers that were part of Maricopa County's Heat Relief Network last year. Sunenshine said they learned valuable details - including that two-thirds of respondents didn't have a stable home, and that many people found the cooling centers only through roadside signs advertising them.
"Some of the biggest barriers to accessing cooling centers are not knowing they exist, not knowing where they're located and not having transportation," she said, "and we based all our actions this upcoming summer on the results of this cooling center evaluation."
She said they were able to establish a call center, operated by bilingual community health workers, to help connect people not only to heat-relief resources but to energy and security-assistance programs.
Arizonans can call 211 to help find transportation to the nearest heat-relief location, when they open again on May 1.
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This week, an Alabama group is drawing attention to the need for Medicaid expansion.
Currently, approximately 300,000 people are stuck in a health care coverage gap, earning too much for Medicaid but not enough for private insurance.
Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director for Alabama Arise, said they are reaching out to legislators statewide and sharing information about the stakes involved.
"About 19 of our rural hospitals are at risk of immediate closure," Smith reported. "That means they are at risk of closing in the next year. And having patients that come in that don't have health insurance coverage is not good for their bottom lines."
The Cover Alabama Coalition is engaging lawmakers through meetings in their districts and encouraging residents to share their experiences and thoughts on Medicaid expansion via social media. Although 19 rural hospitals are due for immediate closure, a report on rural hospitals from advisory firm Chartis highlighted more could be at risk in the long run. The report revealed nearly 74% of Alabama's rural hospitals are operating at a loss.
Smith sees Medicaid expansion as a life-or-death matter, which can greatly enhance the quality of life for many residents. She noted it would provide access to preventive care and vital medications, and can help people enter or remain in the workforce. She pointed out the current Medicaid threshold creates barriers for families in need.
"Let's say a single mom with two kids, she can't make more than $4,656 a year and still qualify for Medicaid unless she has a disability or is pregnant," Smith observed. "And at the other end of the perspective, they have to make at least around $25,000 to qualify for the health insurance marketplace."
She added the expansion could also benefit around 5,000 veterans who lack coverage. Currently, 41 states including District of Columbia, have already expanded Medicaid. Mississippi has also recently passed legislation in its House, it is now waiting for a Senate vote.
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